Blocks: I Wish I Knew w/ Neal Brennan

In this episode of Blocks, Neal Brennan sits down with comedian Gianmarco Soresi to discuss the unconventional path that led him to standup. They dive into his childhood experiences with divorce, his short-lived dreams of becoming a professional singer and actor, and the deep-seated desire for "glory" that keeps him on stage. Gianmarco also opens up about his relationship with his parents, his thoughts on depression and Adderall, and how he’s learning to find balance between his workaholic nature and his personal life. ---------------------------------------------------------- 00:00 - Intro 01:03 - Comedic Wardrobe & Authenticity 03:05 - Rebelling Against His Father 04:59 - His Parents' Divorce 06:11 - Understanding the Nature of Cheating 09:03 - The "Fake" Wedding Priest 10:44 - Choosing Transparency Over Chaos 11:59 - Trying Drugs in His 30s 12:51 - The Acid Trip Epiphany 14:00 - Sponsor: Ultra Focus Pouches 15:58 - The Impact of a Restless Childhood 18:27 - Living with a Stepdad "Antagonist" 20:13 - The Prince of the Weekend 23:31 - Disrupting the Family Narrative 26:10 - The Fallout of a Family Legal Battle 29:24 - Losing the Spotlight at Home 31:32 - Sponsor: Square 34:17 - Sponsor: Quince 36:48 - From Theater Kid to Unathletic Adult 38:47 - The Desire to be Witnessed 39:19 - Using Adderall to Feel "Alive" 41:35 - Fighting the "Lead Vest" of Depression 44:31 - Finding Happiness Outside of Achievement 46:21 - On Theater and Heterosexuality 48:11 - The Pursuit of Glory 51:24 - The Brutal Reality for Dancers 54:11 - Bob Fosse and the Addiction to Showbiz 55:56 - Sponsor: Perplexity 59:30 - Sponsor: CookUnity 1:02:46 - The Workaholic Gene 1:04:06 - Developing New Show Concepts 1:05:08 - How Gianmarco Wants to Die 1:06:16 - The Struggle of Obsessive Practice 1:08:40 - When Music Overwhelms the Mind 1:09:32 - The Cost of Broadway and Theater Culture 1:12:09 - Failing into Standup 1:15:50 - Faking Intellect vs. Perspective 1:18:55 - Watching Art Without Self-Loathing 1:21:27 - Final Thoughts ---------------------------------------------------------- Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan https://twitter.com/nealbrennan https://www.tiktok.com/@mrnealbrennan Watch Neal Brennan: Crazy Good on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81728557 Watch Neal Brennan: Blocks on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81036234 Theme music by Electric Guest (unreleased). Edited by Will Hagle ---------------------------------------------------------- Sponsors: Don't sleep on ⁨@UltraPouches⁩ . New customers get 15% Off with code NEAL at https://www.takeultra.com ! #UltraPouches #ad Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://www.square.com/go/neal #squarepod Download the Quince app or go to https://www.quince.com/NEAL for free shipping & 365-day returns.Start your free trial of Perplexity Computer today at https://pplx.ai/blocks and experience the next phase of AI #ad Go to https://www.cookunity.com/NEAL or enter code NEAL before checkout for 50% off your first order.#GianmarcoSoresi #NealBrennan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Blocks, Neal Brennan sits down with Scottish comedian Daniel Sloss to dismantle the "blocks" that have shaped his life and career. From the massive social impact of his Netflix special Jigsaw—which Daniel claims has led to over 350,000 breakups and hundreds of signed divorce papers—to the heavy toll of relentless global touring, Daniel opens up with brutal honesty. The two discuss Daniel's struggle with weed addiction, the transition from needing constant stranger approval to finding self-worth as a father, and the hilarious, high-stakes story of how he ended up married to his ex-girlfriend’s younger sister. It's a deep dive into self-loathing, the "quiet brain" of his wife, and why being successful doesn't always mean being happy. ---------------------------------------------------------- 00:00 Jimmy Carr1:27 Jigsaw and the 350,000 breakups4:30 Marrying his ex-girlfriend’s sister13:24 Achieving success young & avoiding self-love 15:24 The emotional toll of the X tour 20:32 Weed addiction22:20 Career struggles30:09 Sponsor: Bonobos32:34 Sponsor: CookUnity34:47 Admitting self-hatred in therapy39:39 Finding happiness in family & standup 42:01 The high-functioning stoner cycle 49:53 Bitter and Successful51:08 Comparing yourself to other comedians58:22 Searching for the source of self-loathing1:03:16 Sponsor: Tushy1:05:39 Sponsor: Zocdoc1:08:08 Balancing touring with being a dad 1:11:10 No hobbies and the need for standup1:15:10 Scummy Batman: Stories of justified violence1:23:22 Goals for the future ---------------------------------------------------------- Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan https://twitter.com/nealbrennan https://www.tiktok.com/@mrnealbrennan Watch Neal Brennan: Crazy Good on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81728557 Watch Neal Brennan: Blocks on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81036234 Theme music by Electric Guest (unreleased). Edited by Will Hagle ---------------------------------------------------------- Sponsors: For 25% off your order, head to https://www.Bonobos.com/NEAL and use code NEAL.Go to https://www.cookunity.com/NEAL or enter code NEAL before checkout for 50% off your first order.3 Million Butts Love TUSHY. Get 10% off TUSHY with the code NEAL at https://hellotushy.com/NEALTaking care of your health just got easier – start here with Zocdoc: https://zocdoc.com/NEAL Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedian and former late-night host Craig Ferguson joins Neal Brennan on the Blocks Podcast to explore the "blocks" that have defined his life and career. From his upbringing in Scotland and the impact of sectarian violence to his iconic run on the Late Late Show and over 30 years of sobriety, Craig opens up with deep introspection and his trademark wit. They delve into the realities of fame, the importance of vulnerability, and the turning points that changed everything.Check out Craig's new series 'American on Purpose' on CNN. 👍 Like, Comment & Subscribe for the Algo 👍 Subscribe to Craig Ferguson: ⁨@thecraigfergusonshow⁩ 0:00 - Introduction: The "Rapport" Between Neal and Craig 2:35 - Growing Up in Scotland: Violence and Affability 7:12 - The Influence of Producer Peter Lassally 10:11 - Lessons from a Holocaust Survivor14:15 - Navigating the World of Late-Night Television17:33 - The Reality of Human Relationships in Showbiz22:20 - The Illusion of Fame and Success23:51 Sponsor: BetterHelp25:43 Sponsor: Superpower28:10 - The Turning Point: Choosing Sobriety in 199234:11 - Understanding the "Conundrum" of Alcoholism42:25 - Facing Fear: Learning to Fly and Control Freaks46:27 - Magical Thinking and Superstitions52:05 - The Power of Introspection54:50 Sponsor: CookUnity57:19 Sponsor: Bonobos1:01:45 - Life as a Father and Husband1:09:25 - The Impulse to Tell Stories1:16:10 - Measuring Time and the Collective Unconscious1:23:00 - Outro Thanks to our sponsors! Visit https://www.BetterHelp.com/NEAL Visit https://www.CookUnity.com/NEAL or enter code NEAL before checkout for 50% off your first order. Head to https://www.Superpower.com and use code NEAL at checkout for $20 off your membership. Get 100+ biomarkers tested every year. Plus a personalized health plan and on-demand care team. Detect early signs of 1,000+ conditions. #superpowerpodFor 25% off your order, head to https://www.Bonobos.com/NEAL and use code NEAL. ---------------------------------------------------------- Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan https://twitter.com/nealbrennan https://www.tiktok.com/@mrnealbrennan Watch Neal Brennan: Crazy Good on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81728557 Watch Neal Brennan: Blocks on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81036234 Theme music by Electric Guest (unreleased). Edited by Will Hagle ([email protected]) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rory Scovel joins Neal Brennan to talk about being born into grief—his mother died on his first birthday—and how losing his dad in 2020 reshaped his standup, his parenting, and the way he thinks about aging and death. Plus: learning to read at 44, improvising his entire show every night, asking AI about death, Leonardo DiCaprio playing a father, ADHD, marriage, and more. 👍 Like, Comment & Subscribe for the Algo 👍 00:00 Bombing without a fight 06:43 ADHD 22:36 Overthinking Depression & Catholic Guilt 27:16 Sponsor: Tushy 29:45 Sponsor: Quince 31:32 Grief 51:26 Death 58:26 Sponsor: ZocDoc 1:01:41 Sponsor: HexClad 1:03:30 Parenting & Breaking the Cycle 1:14:15 Aging 1:21:33 Being an available husband Thanks to our sponsors! 3 Million Butts Love TUSHY. Get 10% off TUSHY with the code NEAL at https://www.hellotushy.com/NEAL Visit https://www.Quince.com/NEAL for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.Taking care of your health just got easier - start here with Zocdoc: https://www.zocdoc.com/NEAL #sponsored Find your forever cookware ⁨@HexClad⁩ and get 10% off at https://www.hexclad.com/NEAL #hexcladpartner ---------------------------------------------------------- Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan https://twitter.com/nealbrennan https://www.tiktok.com/@mrnealbrennan Watch Neal Brennan: Crazy Good on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81728557 Watch Neal Brennan: Blocks on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81036234 Theme music by Electric Guest (unreleased). Edited by Will Hagle ([email protected]) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happiness expert, Harvard Professor & author Arthur Brooks joins Neal Brennan to discuss why happiness is ~50% genetic, why men and women fundamentally need different things from love (adoration vs. admiration), the dark triad/tetrad in dating apps, why “success addiction” ruins marriages, the psychology of comedy, the power of the “Reverse Bucket List,” why you need to be bored, how SSRIs affect creativity, Mass vs. Doomscrolling, why your personality keeps improving with age, and why suffering isn’t the same thing as pain. Arthur Brooks’ new book is called ‘The Meaning of Your Life’: https://www.arthurbrooks.com/the-meaning-of-your-life Subscribe to Arthur Brooks: ⁨@drarthurbrooks⁩ https://www.Arthurbrooks.com 00:00 Intro 3:21 Is Happiness Genetic? 5:05 Male vs. Female Emotion 10:20 Adoration vs. Admiration: What Men and Women Really need 15:20 The Dark Tetrad: Society’s Most Dangerous People 19:38 Addiction to Being Adored 27:12 Sponsor: Superpower 30:21 Sponsor: BetterHelp 32:36 Sponsor: CookUnity 35:16 Addiction to Adoration 39:58 Building Protocols to Protect Marriage 44:19 The Happiness Scale 56:45 Going to Mass instead of scrolling 59:34 Why You Need to Be Bored 1:00:56 The Pill, SSRIs & Creativity 1:08:22 Happiness & Aging 1:17:13 Sponsor: Ultra Pouches 1:18:57 Sponsor: The Perfect Jean 1:21:15 The Psychology of Comedy 1:23:45 The Reverse Bucket List 1:31:25 Psychedelics & Prayer 1:36:18 Suffering 1:43:50 Love & Marriage Thanks to our sponsors! Visit https://www.SuperPower.com & use promo code NEAL for $20 off your membership Go to https://www.BetterHelp.com/NEAL for 10% off your first month Visit https://www.CookUnity.com/NEAL & use promo code NEAL for 50% off your order Go to https://www.TakeUltra.com & use promo code NEAL for 15% off your order Visit https://www.ThePerfectJean.NYC/NEAL15 for 15% off plus free shipping. ---------------------------------------------------------- Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan https://twitter.com/nealbrennan https://www.tiktok.com/@mrnealbrennan Watch Neal Brennan: Crazy Good on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81728557 Watch Neal Brennan: Blocks on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81036234 Theme music by Electric Guest (unreleased). Edited by Will Hagle ([email protected]) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices