Joel McHale: Conquering Dyslexia & Imposter Syndrome

Joel McHale (Community, The Soup, Animal Control) joins us in studio to discuss his struggles with dyslexia, ADHD, and imposter syndrome. He shares his experiences working on The Soup and Community, opens up about what it was like to work with Chevy Chase, and his fears about never being taken seriously as an actor. Joel recalls how his challenges with dyslexia impacted him in school and his ability to perform, how he was able to channel his imposter syndrome into positive motivation, and how his kids handle his fame.
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Theme Song Written, Produced, and Performed by Ed Robertson. Mixed by Kenny Luong.
#MayimBialik​​​ #BialikBreakdown #JoelMcHale #dyslexia #impostersyndrome #TheSoup #Community

[@kathleens.m.9562]

Being older, when I went through the school system, the staff at my junior high school put all us dyslexic kids in the dumb class, smirked and made negative comments when we walked passed and treated like we were lacking mentally. Most of the boys were such talented artists. The difficult part of the whole school scenario was believing what the adults said about us. It was a awful childhood. It is good to see Joel and Johnathon do well and overcome their dyslexia. I don't hear enough success stories.

[@angelaholmes8888]

I'm sorry that you were treated so horribly

[@nikolugo]

Same here that happened to me when I was in Middle School they thought I was a dumb kid because I was dyslexic but my industrial art teacher told me I wasn't dumb I just learn things differently

[@Marlorae]

Mayim - I completely agree about the oddball edgy humor from Talk Soup. It was permitted to fully make fun of celebs in an outrageous but hilarious way and was like a guilty pleasure you didn't need to feel guilty about enjoying. Joel was the lifeblood of that show.

[@Emilyatwoodc]

Funniest episode yet 😂😂😂 he is so effortlessly witty.

[@juliaabrahams99]

Yeah... no... yeah.

[@thejackal007]

Nobody has ever stepped on the closing line of this podcast before and I love it.

[@pqm2012]

Gosh I still miss the soup! People would "cancel" it today but it's necessary in the world 😂 love Joel!

[@LightOfJoy1]

Animal Control is HILARIOUS and I'm so glad it was picked up for a second season.

[@angiehh516]

There’s something special about this guy. I love everything he’s in. Talk Soup was so witty and then Community was just fantastic. I clicked on this so fast!

[@marisamartinezolivera]

Misspelling, slow reading, dyslexia. How this episode resonates in me as a natural lefthanded girl forced by my Catholic School’s nuns in those far days to use my right hand. I’m +60 and still remember my tiny 4-yrs-old left arm tied to the chair bc it was”devil’s hand”. That “helped” or developed my mild dyslexia. Turning necessity into virtue, I was forced to develop a great visuo-spatial learning that helped me a lot in my career as architect. I used to call it “The gift and strenghts of my dyslexia”. Years later, I was told that probably I was an undiagnosed “double exceptionality” kid. Who knows…

[@nightrider6769]

Your story is the same as mine natural left-handed forced by the Catholic nuns to be right-handed misspelling bad at math to lexia the whole nine yards comprehensive problems to this day I'm better at it than I was then but yeah definitely was diagnosed with a learning disability other in slower than most people some people can read something and pick it up the first time that doesn't work with me it takes multiple times but I learned to accept it and it is what it is.

[@marisamartinezolivera]

@@nightrider6769 Curiously, my dyxlexia helped me to develop a great (and very useful to my future)visuo-spatial learning, non affecting my math habbilities (I was and still am very good with them), but affected my reading ones I dedicated years to overcome. But hey, that’s life!

[@mikeassad9936]

Mayim has truly “Blossomed” into a fantastic interviewer. Great partnership with Jonathan as well.

[@matiaspereira9382]

Joel McHale did a great job in Community, Mayim. I also remember Amy yelled about the impostor syndrome in Big Bang Theory. Also I saw you were in Florence. I was in Florence almost 1 year before you. Also I had my birthday there and my birthday was last week. Keep your good job Mayim! You're my favorite actress ever! Also 7 years ago today I took a picture in Jim Parsons' star in the Walk of Fame. I really hope you someday get one too! Sheldon Cooper and Amy Farrah Fowler are the best fictional couple ever created!

[@KarmenMartz]

You forgot to say also 🤣

[@juliao1255]

Hey, as part of the "Community" still-cultish-following, I say it was worth it, and those squirrels had it coming! Seriously, I was a very late-comer to the show when it found me on Netflix, (I got rid of my t.v. eons ago) and it's still one of my go-to's. It's one of the very few that I just turn on and let run for a while every day, until the last episode, then start over again with the pilot. It's like just hangin' out with those fools. I don't go for shows with a lot of explosions. I am very grateful for Joel and the gang. I gotta go look up Danny Puti and see what he's doing now...

[@klm4446]

I've always loved Joel since The Soup days. Community goes without saying. His new show, Animal Control, is pretty funny. I'm glad there'll be a S2. Our dog watches it and looks for animals to appear on screen so she can bark at them. It's a favorite of hers. 😂

[@Brendasmpt]

I love they talked about Greg Kinner bc that’s what I first remember him for & thought Talk soup was hilarious, & I watched it when it first came out! (I’m that old 😂) I also love Joel McHale in everything he’s been in & can’t wait to see season 2 of Animal Control! ❤ Joel’s so funny & quick witted & seems very nice & fun. Love that you have such positive people on that have overcome & been successful even with struggles in school. Thank you for encouraging me!😊❤

[@lk1869]

I really liked Animal Control. And I have loved the pokes in it back to his time on Community.

[@kymberlyward6683]

I was always a big fan of The Soup, and Joel McHale! I was excited when I found him on Community & I was hooked. I love this podcast Myiam, you are a great interviewer AND listener! Happy 4th!

[@HH-gv8mx]

I wish she would have gotten deeper into the Chevy Chase story. That would’ve been interesting to learn. It sounded like Chevy was hard to deal with. Maybe kind of a Hollywood snob?

[@kymberlyward6683]

@@HH-gv8mx yes! I would LOVE to hear more about that too!

[@leticiaperez243]

This was such a funny episode. He is very charming. This was so fun. It was great to hear someone who struggles with ADHD as I do. "I don't know what I did last week" I can so relate to that. He is sooo funny and quick. I went to Mercer Island last year. It is beautiful there. I didn't think anyone could be quicker than you - Mayim but Joel is one of them. Jonathan - I am with you there is no reason for snakes. Happy 4th everyone!

[@HH-gv8mx]

Snakes are disgusting. We have a lot of them down here in the south. I remember my mom running over them or backing up purposely to run over them just so we could hear them pop.

[@orland0110]

This is a really great and awesome discussion with Joel McHale. Your channel is amazing. Happy 4th of July beautiful Mayim! ❤

[@Layman33]

This was my favorite episode so far! Thank you for having Joel on!

[@KristinM626]

Such a fun episode! My brother is dyslexic & I struggled to understand why he struggled with school so much at times (I was in the gifted program- opposite ends of the spectrum). Joel sharing his experiences shed a little light on what my brother might have been dealing with. Thank you for always having something I relate to.

[@omriom]

Thanks...last wek episode was one off the best ever...love your podcast... happy 4th of july.

[@CraftyKittyVintage]

I had fun listening and watching. Thank you Joel for being your real, whole self.❤And to Mayim for the same.

[@kimwooten6944]

I love Joel McHale!! Loved this episode.

[@letsuseourbrains]

Joel, you will always be an A+ in my opinion ❤

[@helenmurphree3434]

Love your show Mayim and that it’s longer than a short clip

[@janediaz3390]

I'm gonna cry Amy Fowler-Cooper and Jeff Winger!!!

[@penelopefp]

I love The Soup. Agree, it was smart and quirky, and people that didn't get it annoyed me. Adding you/Joel to my list of people with dyslexia and ADHD that I share at work/school so students with learning differences can be inspired. Our kids are the same age, mine are girls. Mine also love Legos. So glad to see you enjoying your work.

[@stejon1503]

Hands down the funniest episode of any podcast I’ve ever listened too! Thank you guys for making me laugh today!

[@westieweardogkilts9715]

Yaaaaay, Loved this podcast, thank you. JMcH is the best. Can you interview more of the Community cast please?

[@Schu0086]

Love Joel talking about his wife’s voice. I met my husband on a blind date and when I heard him speak I was fully into it. His voice and personality caught me hard ❤

[@Schu0086]

Omg Mayim, I can’t believe you haven’t seen Aliens. You have to watch it 😂

[@Heene1028]

Love this man! ❤

[@Grace-kh5hx]

Joel is awesome, loved this episode

[@CreativeLifestyleMindset]

Awesome episode 🎉❤

[@m_brokenleg]

How better are the episodes when the guest is live at your studio! At some moment this episode brought back to me your fabulous scene as Amy exploding & yelling to those FemiLab scientists & Impostor Syndrom in front of a bunch of real Nobel Laureates at one of TBBT last episodes! Delightful & hilarious moment about a very serious & much common than thought psychological occurrence.. Btw, Jonathan’s reaction to snakes 🐍 is exactly the one of my husband’s! Poor things..(the guys..LOL!)

[@carylshawver]

He was adorable on 'Almost Live' where he got his start 💖

[@AdiRudi]

This was an awesome interview! Joel's amazing, and I love the way he says he'd smoke you in pickleball - very Jeff Winger-esque 😆

[@tazzydee4325]

I bought Joel's book for all my friends. I bought a coloring book of Joel's and made it into a Joke book. I 💜 joel, so let me say that I have noticed a bizarre stop\start way of talking by him and real twitchy plus shaking his head no while saying yes. If he were a house, it's wiring would need to be checked! Seriously love that nice, quirky dude!!!

[@user-lj8fx8ic6n]

When I grow up i wanna be like Mayim. Love Joel too

[@MoonDoggieAngel13]

Loved Talk Soup, big fan

[@TheBlackDeck]

Hi- Subbed. Liked. I enjoyed listening to this.

[@josepadilla-bx4jl]

Very good job Joel

[@KamisKisses]

I love all the series that Joel was in. Animal COntrol is brilliant, annoying and I cant get enough I also miss the great indoors.

[@tomlichnofsky.7048]

Truely Fantastic Channel and Episode! 😎👍👌 The Awesomeness Continues!! 😎👊✊🍁 Happy 4th of July to you guys My American Friends. 😊🖐🖖😊

[@78Lzrd13]

THANK YOU!!!!😂😂😂Joel McHale is a great guy! I don’t like him as the bad guy in #Stargirl but I love him 💯. I laughed my ass off the entire episode and was educated/enlightened on dyslexia.

[@AfterDarkParanormal]

I LOVED Talked Soup, I'll watch anything J.M. is on. He makes me laugh every time!!!✌️🤣

[@tjfreno69]

I LOVED The Soup!

[@mcdonathan2235]

We really enjoy him on Crime Scene Kitchen. Also his appearances on Masked singer Great guy

[@angelicagolindano2539]

Joel McHale for Mr. Fantastic! LET’S GOOOOO!

[@sydnigrauberger5984]

It was a good interview, though I can't help psychoanalyzing and wondering if he has to entertain and be funny all the time or if he is able to be quiet and introspective (outside of therapy). Where people who are so entertaining when they are "on" (e.g., Robin Williams) but that they are quiet and introverted otherwise. Also, love your new photo for the podcast!

[@Bayan1905]

As someone who has mild dyslexia and grew up with it in the 80's when schools ignored it, when I got to fourth grade I not only had to deal with that, but another thing that was a prejudice at one time, being left handed. My biggest issue was with writing and when I would write a word, I knew how to spell it, I used to win spelling bees regularly, but I would mix up the letters in a word when I wrote it down. I still do it now when I type. But, when I was in fourth grade, my teacher saw that I was left handed, and she was part of that mentality, that being left handed was a mental health issue. So, she would make me put my left arm behind my back and forced me to write with my right hand. To her, I needed "retraining" and that would solve any issues I had. It didn't work of course, and I struggled on with horrible writing for many years. It wasn't until high school that I learned to write better, simply by writing all the time, over and over again, but I have to very deliberately watch as I write, so the words or even numbers don't end up jumbled. I find that it even happens when I type. People don't realize how bad left handed kids and anyone left handed was actually treated at one time. I should be grateful I didn't grow up in the 1600's because left handed people were considered to be possessed by demons and could risk being burned at the stake.

[@angelaholmes8888]

I really enjoyed Joel on the show stargirl 😊

[@mckenzycasey8320]

Happy birthday Mayim

[@jenn-k-h]

Lol at the Ken Jeong shoutout 😂... he would be an equally zany guest that I would LOVE to see 😏

[@patriciamurfitt4590]

I loved Talk Soup 😅

[@paulsmith9192]

His new animal control series is good

[@tjfreno69]

This is so me, to a T with my dyslexia.

[@greatlakesnarwhalmichellee4507]

I graduated in 97' I used books for the blind and dyslexic also

[@spklyunicorn]

Fabulous Show!!!! I have loved Joel since his days on Talk Soup. Hysterical!! P.S. Athletic Greens tastes like lawn clippings. Sorry. I just can't.

[@Kay2be2mr]

I'm just now noticing the amount of piercings that Mayim has on her ears 😯. And here I am carefully nursing my very first cartilage piercing feeling like a baby after seeing all that! 😅

[@DavidDatura]

He hasn’t aged a day since Community!

[@letsuseourbrains]

Joel, you say things ALL THE TIME that make me feel like you are my spirit animal, but one of the best times was quoting Hicks from Aliens. My favorite line is Hudson, "I don't know if you're up on your current events but we just got our a$$es kicked back there!"

[@80sDecadeCanYouPleaseComeBack]

I remember Talk Soup very well but mostly with Hal Sparks before he played “Michael” on the future Queer as Folk on Showtime back then!! I had no idea what Talk Soup was about in the beginning but it made me laugh and giggle at times because Hal made it funnier to me😀😀 I do briefly remember Greg Kinnear; Aishsa (?) Tyler the young black lady comedienne, she was funny too; then Joel McHale came on…🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@slimsonite2111]

Oh! I forgot about Hal Sparks! What about John/Jon Henson?

[@redemptionhappens7725]

I miss the soup. Thanks for all the laughs McHale! Also “Kiss mah ASSSSSS!” - Whitney Houston style.

[@melissah3069]

I understand this reference!!! 😁

[@pythonmom]

I love Joel... why doesn't he ever talk about being on StarGirl... I loved that show. His character was awesome

[@joankgillette]

I’m with Jonathan. I can’t even say or hear the word. My husband and I call them thingys. I will have a panic attack and cry.

[@HollyLiana]

Gooooo Dawgs!!!

[@joanmilton9986]

Apart from being triple platinum, Barenaked Ladies, or BNL, also perform Mayim's podcast theme...something else Jeff hasn't done.

[@Rainbowofthefallen]

Just commenting for the algorithm 🖤

[@raulmiranda737]

As a big big fan of joel. This is him in interviews "Yeah, no..."

[@MinouMinet]

Jonathon, you and I are more alike, calm and resolved.

[@OzymandiasWasRight]

Wait. Not every junior high played pickle ball?! God. I'm so lucky to live in Seattle.

[@hnybee113]

@Mayim Bialek I had a raccoon in my front yard, bobcat, mountain lion, deer, coyote, bears in San Gabriel Valley foothills. I have great stories!! Lol😊😊

[@HH-gv8mx]

Was Chevy Chase kind of an asshole in Hollywood? I always imagined him to be kind of like the characters that he played. But after watching him on Bill Maher’s podcast, I’m not too sure that he’s such a great guy.

[@angelaholmes8888]

Nope that man is nothing but a jerk I'm glad nobody in Hollywood want nothing to do with him

[@no1init253]

🌟⭐️🌟⭐️🌟

[@westieweardogkilts9715]

I'm so with you on the snake thing Jonathan.

[@cspaulding54]

It’s a strange thing.. I can spell anything and read well always could.. but I learned as an adult I have dyscalcula which is dyslexia for math .. because I can’t do math i can’t do even simple math..

[@MinouMinet]

OH, same here, numbers are a nightmare. Also mildly dyslexic and none diagnosed until college. I felt so much relief and walked away from all that endless devastating stress. It runs in my family, yet no one ever figured it out. With ya!

[@tamaramccarthy8811]

I'm dyscaluculic and dyslexic, I can read at a college level, but only a 4th grade math level. My father also is dyslexic. I hide my selling errors in small loopy handwritting. Took my teachers a good 3 years to figure out what I was doing.😂 I found a carreer in a place that finding patterns and if then statements from algebra which I excell at. It's all about finding the nitch where you fit.

[@SonOfAGun1814]

does he talk about his hair transplant or hairpiece here because that's all i want to know; how did his hair magically come back so luscious and thick?? 😳😳😳

[@The_Green_Queen]

He kind of alluded to it when they were looking at old pictures

[@ginni1998]

Is the sound bad?

[@paulsmith9192]

Any update on call me kat & blossom reboot?

[@twiedenfeld]

I'm waiting for someone to ask Joel about working on Almost Live with Bill Nye.

[@tjfreno69]

Ohmygawd! I hate paperwork! Pure anxiety!

[@eweisenfeld3070]

huh, I live near Seattle and also lived pretty much in Haddonfield as a kid as well. (alas, was not born in Rome)

[@TheBlackDeck]

44:04 there was a study done, i cant be bothered to find the details, im sure its google-able- where they had many people look at various blurred images of animals, to varying degrees of blurredness. Across the board, everyone recognized snakes before any other animal. I think they postulated that its a remnant instinct left over from our tree dwelling ancestors. Being able to see snakes quickly was, and still is for most animals, a very good tool to have in survival. Anyway, my point is anyone who likes snakes is going against hundreds of thousands possibly millions of years of survival instincts, that that tells me they have poor judgement.

[@yellowfruitchocker9879]

Dude is a menace

[@iwnunn7999]

My God he looks so different. Age has been uncharacteristically kind to him

[@PrepressPrinceton]

I wanna see a TV series with Timothy Olyphant And Joel McHale as brothers

[@greatlakesnarwhalmichellee4507]

And now Mayim's phone is blowing up with requests from Ken to be on her show

[@sallylistle108]

He's 51?! What? No freakin' way...

[@lOlmarii]

What is imposter syndrome?

[@mseadog]

I want to like Breakdown, but you notice a pattern after a few words episodes, and it’s the same as other celebrity-centered long firm interviews: somewhat narcissistic personality thinks they have it bad, becomes famous, still licks their wounds. No one ever seems to overcome or is truly thankful for their journey. It’s like they don’t recognize that the difficulties were the vehicle that drove them to success, but instead, constantly obsess over that old jalopy.

[@MinouMinet]

Dyslexia never goes away…. not really licking old wounds IMO, it’s as much a part of one’s history as all the rest, good, bad, whatever, and ongoing despite his success. Btw, I am dyslexic too.

[@kabel7985]

Just curious.. are you left handed??

[@MinouMinet]

His watch is on his right hand, suggests he is left handed.

[@MrFiremagnet]

Worst thing about this episode is that it's only one hour long

[@Pikkiwoki]

[@hulkhatepunybanner]

*The real story? Jonathan fell into a crate of snakes whilst running away from tomb raiders with their treasure. His dad made him return the treasure... but not his newfound fear.*

[@robinknight2251]

I hate this title. Dyslexia isn't a thing to conquer, which a neuro scientist knows. You use tools to circumvent the symptoms of dyslexia but it's never conquered. This is so frustrating that dyslexia and so many other divergences are considered something that can\should be fixed.

[@bretolson8484]

Racoon in the front yard, Coyote in the back

[@HH-gv8mx]

Why are all these podcast producers pushing athletic greens? It is so expensive! It’s like $100 and up for some powder..

[@jmsl_910]

🤍🤍🤍

[@Geeksfreaksoutcastsandmisfits]

He should apologize for all the horrible things he has said about Britney. For kicking and punching someone when they were at their lowest. Chauvinist, sexiest and plane mean comments that he should’ve never said

[@angelaholmes8888]

What I had know idea about this you are right he totally should

[@kdholden]

Is he on drugs? Does he hate her? Is he treating this whole interview as a bit? He made this interview extremely difficult to watch. This made me so uncomfortable!!

[@Lisa-tn6mq]

He's one of those guys who's "always on." But if you accept that, he's entertaining!

[@SonOfAGun1814]

i couldn't get past 5 minutes, i thought it was just me

[@kdholden]

@@Lisa-tn6mq Thank you but I'm glad Im not the only one who feels it's disrespectful. And ALSO, the theme of this podcast is to open up Seriously. Mental health.

[@catloverKD]

I can't follow it to save my life, I thought it was just me.

[@MinouMinet]

ADHD is common with dyslexia, so he is always ON. Can be challenging for sure.

[@hulkhatepunybanner]

*McHale's defensive mechanism-esque style of cracking wise is VERY much a Chevy Chase thing. So unless he picked it up watching Chase on SNL and in movies, it may have rubbed off on McHale when he "rassled" with Chase.*

[@louisbonilla6780]

You either like him or you don't - he is verbally limited so you really have to step down a few ladder steps in terms of intelligence