Hold On with Eugene Mirman
44 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 6 years ago - ★★★★★ - 260 ratingsStorytelling aficionado and inquisitive host Eugene Mirman (Bob’s Burgers) sits down with special comedian guests and pauses their true, entertaining, and personal stories to get the funny details they might have left out.
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Episodes
Bridgetown Comedy Festival: Guy Branum, Karen Kilgariff, and Kyle Kinane
April 23, 2018 07:00 - 1 hour - 90.2 MBMaybe you couldn't make it to Portland for the 2017 Bridgetown Comedy Festival, but now, with the help of modern technology, you can have a virtual simulation of being in the audience for a live episode of Hold On with Eugene Mirman from that very festival. Marvel at Guy Branum's sassy story of unsuccessful sexcapades, be star struck by Karen Kilgariff's celebrity encounter, bask in the inglorious origin of Kyle Kinane's comedy career, and weep with joy as Eugene Mirman asks all the question...
Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival: Michael Showalter, Caroline Rhea, Ira Glass
April 16, 2018 07:00 - 52 minutes - 71.6 MBAt the tenth and final Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival, a motley crew of daring storytellers boldly ventured onstage to have their stories cross-examined by the festival's very namesake. Michael Showalter reminisces about experiences touring with Eugene, Caroline Rhea remembers not being remembered by a comedy legend, and Ira Glass shares an unaired This American Life story. Titular, eponymous, and always curious: Eugene Mirman was present at his own festival to question these stories! I...
Neil deGrasse Tyson Dances with Fate
April 09, 2018 16:00 - 20 minutes - 27.6 MBNeil deGrasse Tyson is the most famous astrophysicist to ever tell a story to Eugene Mirman on a show called Hold On. He's also probably the most famous astrophysicist ever to tell a story to any Eugene for any reason, but it's the story he told THIS Eugene that you'll want to hear. In it, a pre-fame Neil weighs a potential graduate school job. If you were given as many guesses as there are stars in the universe, you probably couldn't guess what that job was! In each episode of the Aud...
Sara Benincasa and The Grand Canyon Diaphragm
March 19, 2018 07:00 - 27 minutes - 37.8 MBHost Eugene Mirman sits down with comedian and writer Sara Benincasa to discuss all of the details behind the story she told at a RISK! show in New York. Her featured story deals with one of the funniest conversations anyone could have at a funeral. Learn more about the unusual Benincasa family trade and discover which glam rocker's family actually owns a funeral home, all in this hilarious, question-filled episode of Hold On. In each episode of the Audible Comedy series Hold On, host ...
Mike Lawrence Slams Poetry
March 12, 2018 07:00 - 25 minutes - 34.9 MBMike Lawrence is an excellent comedic competitor on shows like @Midnight and Roast Battle, but his adversaries on those shows might set their sights on his pre-comedy pursuits for japes and jabs if only they knew...in high school he was big into slam poetry. Thankfully, Eugene Mirman is a friendly fellow who's curiosity trumps any temptation to mock. Mike shared his story of coming up through the slam poetry open mic scene in Florida in a story for RISK! And in this episode of Hold On, curio...
John Fugelsang Shakes up an Election
March 05, 2018 08:00 - 27 minutes - 37.7 MBYou might think it's in the job description for political comedians like John Fugelsang to take powerful politicians down a peg or two, but during the 2012 election, John learned it's not always the best idea to ask the tough questions. Host Eugene Mirman finds out how the struggling new father made his mark on the Romney-Obama presidential race and what it did to his career, as the two dig into John's story on this politically-charged episode of Hold On with Eugene Mirman. In each epi...
Janeane Garofalo Searches for Meaning (Live!)
February 26, 2018 08:00 - 17 minutes - 24.3 MBJaneane Garofalo (Wet Hot American Summer, Ratatouille) joined Eugene Mirman onstage in San Francisco for a live edition of Hold On, and now you get to hear her story and the questions it raised! Janeane recounts how rambling became a hobby and how her impromptu excursions have helped her reflect on what she wants in life. In each episode of the Audible Comedy series Hold On, host Eugene Mirman (Bob's Burgers, The Flight of the Conchords) pauses the funny stories of comedians and perfo...
NYC Podfest: Jean Grae
February 19, 2018 08:00 - 22 minutes - 31.1 MBJean Grae is a rapper, actress, and comedian who is probably the only living person that can boast that she's guested on tracks with Immortal Technique, Talib Kweli, Wale, and Lil B, and has shared the stage with John Hodgman. Her eclectic career has taken her to many strange places, which means she has some stellar stories like the one about a crazy ride home that she shares in this live episode of Hold On at NYC PodFest. Eugene Mirman shared the stage with Jean and went along for the ride ...
SF Sketchfest: Alice Wetterlund
February 12, 2018 08:00 - 22 minutes - 30.8 MBAlice Wetterlund (People of Earth, Silicon Valley, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates) thinks it's important to do the right thing. Sometimes that means looking out for the disadvantaged - even if they walk on four legs and hiss. Eugene Mirman is a curious cat, so he invited Alice to SF Sketchfest 2017 to spin a yarn about empathy, gratitude, and feral kittens. Now you can hear her story, his questions, and the adulation of the crowd in this special live episode of Hold On! In each episo...
Matt Braunger Moves Back Home
February 05, 2018 08:00 - 26 minutes - 48.3 MBMoving back in with your parents is rarely a sign that your life is going in the right direction. On this episode of Hold On, host Eugene Mirman sits down with comedian Matt Braunger to hear a funny, but cautionary tale about a pivotal time in Matt's life. Hear why he was forced to live with his folks and what it meant for his relationship with them and his stand-up comedy career. In each episode of the Audible Comedy series Hold On, host Eugene Mirman (Bob's Burgers, The Flight of the...
Boston Comedy Festival: Jonathan Katz
January 29, 2018 08:00 - 17 minutes - 24.2 MBJonathan Katz is a comedian's comedian who has earned the right to reminisce about life on the road -- but none shall be spared the inquisitive storytelling musings of Eugene Mirman! Not even the esteemed comic and former cartoon psychiatrist can tell his story at the Boston Comedy Festival without invoking the devastatingly keen observations and lacerating questions called forth in every hilarious episode of Hold On with Eugene Mirman. Behold, this live recording of Jonathan's numerous amus...
Boston Comedy Festival: Mara Wilson
January 22, 2018 08:00 - 20 minutes - 28.7 MBMara Wilson's book has a question for a title: Where Am I Now? Eugene Mirman has some questions for Mara, particularly in regards to her story about doing community theater in Texas. So, he invited her to the Boston Comedy Festival to share her story of drama on and offstage, and to answer his questions about said drama for a special live recording of Hold On with Eugene Mirman: the only comedic storytelling audio show with all of the questions from Eugene Mirman you love! In each epis...
Elna Baker and Dysfunctional Doll Adoption
January 15, 2018 08:00 - 20 minutes - 28 MBElna Baker helped hundreds of babies get adopted at her old job. No, not human babies. Elna was a fake nurse at a fake adoption center in FAO Schwartz, where she helped place realistic baby dolls in the homes of wealthy Manhattanites. Hear how she got attached to a little bundle of plastic joy in her story she told for RISK! in New York City. Host Eugene Mirman digs into the details of Elna's unusual job in this episode of Hold On. In each episode of the Audible Comedy series Hold On, ...
Kurt Braunohler Opens His Relationship Up
January 08, 2018 08:00 - 24 minutes - 35 MBComedian Kurt Braunohler (IFC's Bunk, Audible's Wedlock) once found enlightenment in the oddest of places: an Apple store bathroom. There, the seeds of inspiration were planted in his mind and he decided to take an unconventional break from his (then) long-term relationship. Eugene Mirman sat Kurt down to hear how that unusual plant went and to ask a few burning questions. In each episode of the Audible Comedy series Hold On, host Eugene Mirman (Bob's Burgers) pauses the funny stories ...
Just for Laughs Festival: Gad Elmaleh
January 01, 2018 08:00 - 16 minutes - 24.1 MBStorytelling can bring together people from many different cultures and, at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal, it brought together Eugene Mirman and Gad Elmaleh for a special live recording of Hold On. Montreal was a fitting place to hear the tale of Gad's transition from the French tradition of live comedy to a more casual North American stand-up style. It's also fitting that Eugene was on hand to casually interject with thoughtful and funny questions. In each episode of the Au...
Chris Fairbanks and That Darn Cat
December 25, 2017 08:00 - 19 minutes - 28.1 MBThey say that cats have nine lives. Well, comedian Chris Fairbanks was lucky enough to share several of those lives with a stray he took in. Chris told a few memorable anecdotes about his feline friend for The Narrators in Denver. On this episode of Hold On, Eugene Mirman breaks out the catnip to learn more about the indelible origin story of Chris' fiery furball companion. In each episode of the Audible Comedy series Hold On, host Eugene Mirman (Bob's Burgers, The Flight of the Conchords...
Just for Laughs Festival: Cameron Esposito
December 18, 2017 08:00 - 15 minutes - 21.8 MBNormally, when Eugene Mirman wants to pause a story to dig for some background information, he tends to do it in a recording studio. On rare occasions, he ventures outside, goes up to Canada, and does his detail-digging live onstage as part of the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal. This is one of those rare occasions and the details he's digging for are provided by hilarious stand-up Cameron Esposito (Take My Wife on Seeso), whose story of self-discovery turns out to be both inspiring and...
Just For Laughs Festival: Joe Mande
December 11, 2017 08:00 - 17 minutes - 25.5 MBIn 2016, intrepid comedian Eugene Mirman had the audacity to put Montreal's Just For Laughs Festival on hold so he could bring comedians onstage to tell funny stories and answer funny questions. One such comedian was the prolific stand-up comic, writer, and ironic re-tweeter, Joe Mande (Parks and Recreation, The Good Place, Kroll Show), whose story of gaming Twitter gets scrutinized on this live episode of Hold On with Eugene Mirman. In each episode of the Audible Comedy series Hold On, ho...
Steve Agee Tries Ecstasy
December 04, 2017 08:00 - 23 minutes - 32.2 MBOn this episode, comedian Steve Agee (The Sarah Silverman Show) opens up to Eugene Mirman about his first experience with the party drug ecstasy. Once the story gets going, the questions start flying. Learn about the good times and the bad times that can result from taking recreational drugs as Steve explains the how and why of his hilarious true tale that he originally shared at a Don't Tell My Mother show in Los Angeles.
Just for Laughs Festival: Mary Lynn Rajskub
November 27, 2017 08:00 - 17 minutes - 34 MBIf you tell a performer to "hold that thought" while they're telling a funny story, you might get kicked out of the show you're attending. Not so if you're Eugene Mirman holding up Mary Lynn Rajskub's hilarious live story. He didn't get kicked out of the Just for Laughs Montreal presentation of Hold On with Eugene Mirman - in fact, he was allowed to ask as many questions as he wanted about Mary Lynn's unintentional brush with the oldest profession. In each episode of the Audible Comedy...
Sean Patton Gets "Whiteout" Drunk
November 20, 2017 08:00 - 30 minutes - 42 MBSean Patton has the ability to remember everything when he's beyond blackout drunk. So when he becomes the drunken catalyst for some insanity at a house party, Sean is able to tell the whole story. On this episode of Hold On, Eugene Mirman finds out what else Sean can remember about that fateful night. In each episode of the Audible Comedy series Hold On, host Eugene Mirman (Bob's Burgers) pauses the funny stories of comedians and performers to get the skinny behind the story. Featured...
Baron Vaughn Releases His Inner Conflict
November 13, 2017 08:00 - 30 minutes - 41.5 MBThere are two kinds of people in the world: people who have gone on Eugene Mirman's show, Hold On, to tell a story and answer Eugene's questions about it; and those who have not gone on Eugene Mirman's show, Hold On, but would probably enjoy listening to it. Sharp-witted comedian Baron Vaughn (Mystery Science Theater 3000, Grace and Frankie) can now say in all honesty that he has successfully transitioned from the latter to the former. He dropped by the studio to spill his guts (among other ...
NYC Podfest: H. Jon Benjamin
November 06, 2017 08:00 - 22 minutes - 30.9 MBJon Benjamin (Archer, Bob's Burgers) has the most recognizable voice in comedy, but it's his parents who have a talent for recognizing exceptional dining experiences. Eugene Mirman recognized the opportunity to have Jon onstage at NYC Podfest to relay a funny account of his parents' restaurant recommendation and answer questions about the family's memorable dining experience. In each episode of the Audible series Hold On, host Eugene Mirman (Bob's Burgers) pauses the funny stories of c...
Ken Reid and His Former Neighbor Eddie Murphy
October 30, 2017 07:00 - 25 minutes - 34.8 MBOn this episode of Hold On, host Eugene Mirman sits down with fellow comedian Ken Reid to hear a story about his super-weird neighbor Eddie Murphy -- no, not THAT Eddie Murphy. Eugene asks Ken about being a nosy neighbor, bizarre Halloween traditions, and the effect early exposure to horror movies can have on a kid. Ken originally told his story for the live show RISK! in New York. This one's not for the faint of heart! In each episode of the Audible Comedy series Hold On, host Eugene ...
Greg Proops Gets All Shook Up
October 23, 2017 07:00 - 21 minutes - 28.9 MBSan Francisco in the late '80s was a real swinging place - sometimes literally, as was the case during the Loma Prieta earthquake. Seasoned improviser, actor, and comedian Greg Proops (Whose Line Is It Anyway?) remembers being in the city as it was thrown into chaos in this harrowing episode of Hold On with Eugene Mirman. Greg and Eugene get into the stalled World Series, pilfered cookies, crazy landlords, and terrified house cats that all colored Greg's recollection of that historic day. ...
Chris Gethard and The Moment of Cool
October 16, 2017 07:00 - 24 minutes - 34.2 MBThe adolescent quest to obtain alcohol is a tale as old as time. Now, you can hear Chris Gethard (Broad City, The Chris Gethard Show, Don't Think Twice) tell a hilarious story of getting drunk in a New Jersey basement from his younger days. Even better, you can hear Eugene Mirman's quest to get all the details surrounding Chris' tale of underage mischief in this awesome episode of Hold On! Find out how Chris achieved the pinnacle of cool one fateful night. In each episode of the Audibl...
W. Kamau Bell Encounters Imperfect Strangers
October 09, 2017 07:00 - 30 minutes - 41.9 MBKamau Bell is no stranger to getting approached by strangers since he's a TV personality (Totally Biased, United Shades of America), prolific stand-up comic, and father of two undeniably adorable daughters. The reasons he gets approached, however, don't always relate to who he actually is or what he's actually doing with a cute baby in his arms. His stories of awkward and imperfect strangers find their perfect pairing with the questions and comments Eugene Mirman brings to the table in this ...
Just For Laughs Festival: Aparna Nancherla
October 02, 2017 07:00 - 18 minutes - 26.1 MBA live audience at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal was privileged with a very special live version of Eugene Mirman's comedic storytelling (and story explaining) show, Hold On, but we're not going to let them hoard that wonderful experience. Here's a live story told by the hilarious Aparna Nancherla (Inside Amy Schumer, Netflix's Love) about dating woes in the era of social media, plus all the probing questions and asides from your inquisitive host Eugene. In each episode of t...
SF Sketchfest: Busy Philipps
September 25, 2017 07:00 - 23 minutes - 32.6 MBBusy Philipps has been stealing scenes from she was attending high school on Freaks and Geeks to when she was also attending high school on Dawson's Creek to when she was the ex-wife of a high school vice principal on Vice Principals. Nevertheless, there are certain times in life when you don't want to steal the scene, and one such time would be the wedding of your boyfriend's ex-fiancé. Eugene Mirman, proud high school graduate and host of Hold On, goes scene-by-scene with Busy on stage as ...
Wyatt Cenac and the Science of Drunk Driving
September 18, 2017 07:00 - 25 minutes - 35.1 MBWyatt Cenac (The Daily Show, People of Earth, and Seeso's Night Train with Wyatt Cenac) found an interesting application of the scientific method while volunteering at a science museum: a drunk-driving simulator. Eugene Mirman had Wyatt call a cab to the Hold On studios to talk all the theories and hypotheses his unique experiments in virtual recklessness yielded. Drink a few digital beers and hit the road with Wyatt and Eugene in this very educational episode of Hold On with Eugene Mirman! ...
Jim Gaffigan Opens for the Pope
September 11, 2017 07:00 - 25 minutes - 35.4 MBOn this extra special episode of Hold On, host Eugene Mirman brings esteemed comedian Jim Gaffigan into the studio to tell a live story on the spot. The story in question? The time Jim did stand-up comedy as an opening act for Pope Francis in Philadelphia, at an event attended by hundreds of thousands of people. Eugene inquisitively pauses Jim's tale in real time to find out how he landed the big gig, what it was like meeting the Pope, and why a joke about Santa Claus garnered such a strong ...
Kristen Schaal's Tour de Face
September 04, 2017 07:00 - 26 minutes - 36 MBCartoon siblings reunite on this episode of Hold On as Kristen Schaal (Bob's Burgers, The Last Man on Earth) joins Eugene Mirman in the studio to tell a story of a Sideways-themed winery tour. It's all vintages and pairing recommendations until things take a hard turn. Hear her story and the questions it raises for our curious host, who refuses to put a cork in it and leave a story unexamined. In each episode of the Audible Comedy series Hold On, host Eugene Mirman (Bob's Burgers, The Fli...
NYC PodFest: David Cross
August 28, 2017 07:00 - 23 minutes - 32.2 MBDavid Cross (Mr. Show, Arrested Development) is a pillar of the comedy world, but even a man who is known for acerbic, often political standup and metatextual, intricate sketch writing can still have a soft spot for a good old-fashioned prank. Eugene Mirman brought David onstage at the NYC Podfest to revisit the impromptu execution of that practical joke and ask him questions about how it all played out. Live from New York it's Hold On with Eugene Mirman! In each episode of the Audible Com...
John Mulaney's Summer of Classic Rock
August 21, 2017 07:00 - 19 minutes - 26.7 MBAn appreciation for quality tunes is not something anyone is born with; babies have poor taste in music. No, the love of great bands like Led Zeppelin is developed and discovered as one grows into adulthood. Comedian John Mulaney (Saturday Night Live, The Comeback Kid on Netflix) tells a story about finding music and learning hard truths, as he takes Eugene Mirman back to a pivotal summer of his youth. Join their journey towards rock appreciation in this nostalgic episode of Hold On. In ea...
Moshe Kasher's Sex-Positive Family
August 14, 2017 07:00 - 24 minutes - 33 MBThe most unusual thing about comedian Moshe Kasher's mom is not that she's deaf. It's that she subscribes to some very liberal views in regard to sex. This, naturally, had a big impact on Moshe's childhood, as he detailed in his story from a Don't Tell My Mother show in Los Angeles. In this episode of Hold On, host Eugene Mirman digs deeper into how deafness, sexuality, and the 90’s rave culture informed Moshe's upbringing. In each episode of the Audible Comedy series Hold On, host Eugene ...
Mike Birbiglia Tees Up an Awkward Performance
August 07, 2017 07:00 - 19 minutes - 26.6 MBFor most of his career, if you asked comedian, author, and director Mike Birbiglia (Don't Think Twice, Sleepwalk With Me) about his worst gig ever, he would say it was the time he attempted stand-up at a charity golf event. Eugene Mirman brings Mike into the studio to tell the story of that challenging gig, while making sure to pause the narrative to ask some probing questions and crack some jokes. It's all par for the course in this sporty episode of Hold On with Eugene Mirman! In each e...
Reggie Watts Goes Beyond the Beaded Curtain
July 31, 2017 07:00 - 23 minutes - 31.8 MBReggie Watts (The Late Late Show) is a comedic genius and musical mastermind, but he’s not a rude dude. Stopping a person telling a story is a rude dude thing to do...unless they're a guest on an episode of Hold On and you happen to be a master story-disrupter, like Eugene Mirman. In this excellent episode of his storytelling series, Eugene cuts into Reggie's thrilling tale of mushrooms and bathrooms to politely prod for more detail. In each episode of the Audible Comedy series Hold On, ho...
Boston Comedy Festival: Emo Philips
July 24, 2017 07:00 - 20 minutes - 28.1 MBA paraprosdokian is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence is unexpected in a way that causes the listener to reframe or reinterpret the first part. Emo Philips is a master of the paraprosdokian and a comedic genius, immediately recognizable for his pageboy haircut and wandering falsetto (or his iconic role in UHF). Eugene Mirman is the host of Hold On with Eugene Mirman and a master of turning a live storytelling event on its head with his delightful questions and interje...
Hasan Minhaj and the Pursuit of Prom
July 17, 2017 07:00 - 28 minutes - 39.4 MBFor most teenagers, prom is a big deal with a lot of build-up. Asking someone to the big dance comes with enough hurdles as it is, so Hasan Minhaj (The Daily Show) was convinced that his strict Indian father and his family's cultural quirks would ruin any shot he might have at finding someone to slow dance with on prom night. On this episode of Hold On, host Eugene Mirman takes Hasan back to high school to find out if he managed to score his dream date for the big night. In each episode of...
Lisa Lampanelli Has a Strict Toe Limit
July 10, 2017 07:00 - 21 minutes - 29.9 MB“Queen of Mean” Lisa Lampanelli has an innate ability to put people in their place with her barbed wit, but behind that sharp comedic talent there’s a lot of heart. You can hear some of that heart – and some of those barbs – in Lisa’s story about a wonderful, memorable man she dated and the health concern that drove her away. Where do comedians go when they want to answer questions about stories they’ve told? They come right here, to Hold On. On this episode, your inquisitive host Eugene Mir...
Just for Laughs Festival: Maria Bamford
July 03, 2017 07:00 - 23 minutes - 32.4 MBMaria Bamford was named Breakout Comedy Star of the Year at the 2016 Just For Laughs comedy festival because she’s an amazing comedian. Hold On with Eugene Mirman is an amazing audio show where comedians join Eugene in the studio and on stage to break down funny stories they've told. In this special live episode from the festival in Montreal, Eugene broke out of the studio to bring Maria Bamford up on stage to tell a true story and answer some questions about it. Maria recounted the trials a...
Kumail Nanjiani Plays the Name Game
June 26, 2017 08:00 - 23 minutes - 32.1 MBMoving from Pakistan to America meant bridging two very different cultures. Those differences were brought into stark contrast for comedian Kumail Nanjiani on the day he married his American wife in a Muslim ceremony for his Pakistani family. Kumail's wedding was notable for a number of reasons and on this episode of Hold On, Eugene Mirman digs into the backstory to uncover more about Pakistan, a difficult Muslim priest, and a major event that wasn't even mentioned in the original story! ...
SF Sketchfest: Andy Richter
June 26, 2017 07:30 - 17 minutes - 23.7 MBAndy Richter is no stranger to sharing a stage with someone, but never before has that stage been at the Swedish American Hall in San Francisco. Andy has also never before shared a stage with Eugene Mirman for a special San Francisco Sketchfest live recording of the always-inquisitive audio show Hold On with Eugene Mirman! You wanted the best, and you got the best: Andy shares a true story about seeing KISS at the Hoosier Dome and getting caught up in the psycho circus backstage. Your rockst...
Weird Al Yankovic Loses His Glasses
June 26, 2017 07:00 - 24 minutes - 34 MBIf there’s one thing “Weird Al” Yankovic loves, it’s jamming out on his accordion. If there's one thing Eugene Mirman enjoys more than pausing comedians' pre-recorded stories for his hit show Hold On, it's pausing comedians' stories they haven't ever recorded before on his hit show Hold On! On this episode, "Weird Al” opens up about going under the knife on live TV for the surgery that redefined his iconic look and Eugene gets inquisitive about the whole eye-opening ordeal. In each episode...