Dan Soder returns to kick off the new I Wish I Knew premise on Blocks: the things people wish they'd figured out sooner.Dan gets into why being funny matters more for men than having abs, how cutting out industry middlemen is the best path to creative freedom, and why stealing from corporations is okay. In an update from his classic episode of Blocks, he shares how finding a letter from his sister changed the way he understood his dad leaving.Plus: exercise, eating, long butt cracks, hero worship, and how to not take everything personally.
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Subscribe to @DanSoder
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Chapters
00:00 New format: I Wish I Knew
01:58 Cutting out the comedy middlemen
05:37 Stealing from Bed Bath & Beyond
09:43 Doing bits with customer service
14:47 Sponsor: BetterHelp
16:20 Sponsor: Superpower
19:10 Body image: just get in the pool
20:17 Friendship, Instagram & anxiety
25:03 Personality, abs & attraction
35:25 Sponsor: CookUnity
37:46 Sponsor: Mars Men
40:18 Exercise & getting older
42:42 Still being a comedy fan
46:58 Your heroes are just people
49:13 Dan’s dad & wanting approval
54:17 Finding his sister’s letter
57:26 Understanding your parents
59:51 Sponsor: ZBiotics
1:01:21 Taking things less personally
1:04:45 Why read the comments?
1:06:32 Healthy relationships & handling rejection
1:11:10 Being wrong & saying “my bad”
1:12:43 Weed & moderation
1:14:52 Wrap-up
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Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan
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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
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Gianmarco Soresi
Thursday, September 3, 2026 • Duration 01:24:05
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.
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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
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Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan
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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
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Daniel Sloss
Thursday, August 20, 2026 • Duration 01:31:20
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.
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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
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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
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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
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Craig Ferguson
Thursday, August 6, 2026 • Duration 01:27:34
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!
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Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan
https://twitter.com/nealbrennan
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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 (wthagle@gmail.com)
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Rory Scovel
Thursday, July 23, 2026 • Duration 01:37:49
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!
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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 (wthagle@gmail.com)
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Happiness Expert Dr. Arthur C. Brooks
Thursday, July 9, 2026 • Duration 01:53:29
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!
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Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan
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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 (wthagle@gmail.com)
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jordan Jensen
Thursday, June 25, 2026 • Duration 01:30:10
Neal Brennan interviews Jordan Jensen ('Take Me With You' on Netflix, RIP w/ Jordan Jensen) about cancelling her last scheduled appearance at the last second, codependency, sex and love addiction, shapeshifting in relationships, chaos vs. calm, addiction, quitting coke, the biology of rage, status anxiety, living in reality vs. living in delusion, her standup comedy, telling the truth, self-sabotage and obsessing over fairness.
Subscribe to Jordan Jensen: @jordanjensenlolstop
Watch 'Jordan Jensen: Take Me With You' on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81978275
00:00 Intro
00:45 Cancelling Her Last Scheduled Blocks Appearance
4:30 Codependency
19:07 Sponsor: Zocdoc
20:55 Sponsor: Tushy
23:40 Quitting Drinking & Coke
29:00 Sugar Addiction
34:30 What she's learned in recovery
37:45 Vulnerability
50:44 The Telepathy Tapes
53:54 Sponsor: Bubs Naturals
56:03 Sponsor: The Perfect Jean
58:14 Rage & Anti-Authority
1:10:14 Obsessed with Fairness
1:18:49 Status anxiety
1:22:00 Honesty
1:24:45 Her Goals
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Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan
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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
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Josh Johnson
Thursday, June 11, 2026 • Duration 01:28:12
Neal Brennan interviews Josh Johnson (New HBO special: Symphony) about being too nice, working together at The Daily Show, how his fashion sense has changed thanks to a good deed Neal doesn't remember, his prolific posting of standup on his Youtube channel, growing up lower-income, billionaires building bunkers, being present emotionally, becoming an effective communicator, whether or not comedy can change the world or people's lives, why Americans are too comfortable for a revolution, MAGA vs. Liberals, what it's like to be him, and much more.
00:00 Intro
2:00 Too Nice
6:00 The Forgotten Clothes Story
10:00 Working with Neal at the Daily Show
12:40 Prolific Standup Posting
19:09 Sponsor: BetterHelp
21:23 Sponsor: Superpower
24:35 Growing up lower-income
48:18 Sponsor: CookUnity
50:57 Sponsor: Bonobos
53:15 Sponsor: Ultra
55:24 Being Present Emotionally
1:00:00 Effective Communication
1:06:00 MAGA vs. Liberals
1:19:00 What It’s Like To Be Him
Thanks to our sponsors!
Visit https://www.BetterHelp.com/NEAL for 10% off your first month. Go to https://www.Superpower.com and use promo code NEAL for $20 off your membership.
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Go to https://www.Bonobos.com and use promo code NEAL for 25% off your order.
Visit https://www.TakeUltra.com and use promo code NEAL for 10% off your order.
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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
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Brad Williams
Thursday, May 28, 2026 • Duration 01:29:11
Neal Brennan interviews Brad Williams (New special: Live on Short Street) about his experience living with dwarfism, the guilt he felt after his daughter was born with the same disability, how he learned to reframe his thinking and approach parenting in a positive manner, the arc of his standup career, why Ari Shaffir said no one wants to follow him on stage, the fears no one else sees (why Brad won't drink around drunk people), his marriage, and much more.
Subscribe to Brad Williams @BradWilliamsComedy
Watch Brad Williams: Live on Short Street: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXDA3HHcq5E
00:00 Intro
2:08 Dwarfism
10:32 Is dwarfism an advantage in comedy?
13:06 Childhood
17:58 Peter Dinklage
21:16 Sponsor: CookUnity
23:34 Sponsor: ZocDoc
25:37 Dating
50:48 Sponsor: Tushy
52:59 Sponsor: Amentara
56:05 Sponsor: Quince
57:55 Imposter Syndrome
1:01:44 His Daughter
1:19:02 Health & Gratitude
Thanks to our sponsors!
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Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan
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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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Malcolm Gladwell
Thursday, May 14, 2026 • Duration 01:31:10
Neal Brennan interviews Malcolm Gladwell (Revisionist History, Broken Record, Blink, Outliers The Tipping Point) about the moral dilemmas of responsible journalism, why he doesn't believe in complaining or introspection, playing Monopoly standing up, money anxiety, his lack of jealousy, the attention Gawker gave him, his interview techniques, dinner party conversations, Elvis Presley's mom's toes, Zootopia 2, Derek Chauvin, Trump, Kevin Hart, Trevor Noah, and much more.
Listen to Revisionist History: https://lnk.to/RHBlocks
00:00 Why Malcolm isn't introspective
18:49 Sponsor: BetterHelp
20:46 Sponsor: Superpower
23:58 Fame, money, competitiveness & anxiety
31:37 The Gawker Era
35:57 Trevor Noah, Chris Rock and Kevin Hart
44:32 Interview techniques
57:26 Sponsor: Harry's
59:45 Sponsor: BUBs
1:02:21 Zootopia 2
1:04:26 Irv Gotti
1:06:00 Responsible Journalism
1:11:10 Elvis Presley
1:13:15 Derek Chauvin
1:22:09 Trump
Thanks to our sponsors!
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Follow Neal Brennan: https://www.instagram.com/nealbrennan
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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
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