Show Notes
Dan discusses inner work, creativity and bizarre career paths with Ego Nwodim (Saturday Night Live, Comedy Bang Bang, Thanks Dad). Among other things, they chat about the mythology of New York City, Ego's academic origins studying biology, the zen-state of performing improv comedy, how trying to be funny is the least funny thing, the chaotic power of Comedy Bang Bang, making friends as an adult, how acting allows you to play out versions of yourself that might get stifled in real life, the strength of vulnerability, celebrating excellence in others, and the faith of letting personal practices go when they're no longer helpful. This episode features a surprise needle drop of "October" by La Force. Caveat: This conversation occurred before Ego announced that she was leaving SNL.
More from Dying of Exposure with Dan Mangan
Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter Madison is an otherworldly talent. She'd still be a megastar if she were only known for her voice or her guitar playing - thankfully, we get to enjoy both. I've come to know and love her music over the past few years. I'm blown away by her ability to marry thoughtful songwriting with deeply innovative and spontaneous-sounding arrangements. Among other things, we chat about leaving the church with a final mic-drop, creative amnesia, tricking your brain into believing you're not a total loser, and Judy Sill. This episode features a surprise needle drop of "These Days" by Aidan Knight.
Winnipeger Jacob Brodovsky is a celebrated songwriter, community builder & radio host who found himself at the centre of a sh*tstorm after liking some Instagram posts related to a fundraiser for the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund. Jacob spent a great deal of his life at an inclusive Jewish sleep-away camp. He was a camper, then a counsellor, and eventually the camp's Executive Director. He not only met his wife at the camp, but also proposed and married her there. Shortly after a blog post surfaced about his perceived views on Israel, he was ostracized from the community. It's a lot to unpack, and without centring his own heartache in the matter, he superbly articulates a depth of empathy and understanding from all angles of the tempest. This episode features a surprise needle drop of "Lisière" by Laurie Torres.
Grammy nominated genre-defiers Tegan and Sara have survived scene after scene, reinventing themselves musically throughout decades of worldwide success. Among other things, Dan, Tegan & Sara chat about Neil Young's soft hands, how queerness has consumed their narrative for most of their careers, how you don't know how to do something until you do it, and how young people should buy a pack of cigarettes (but not smoke them). This episode features a surprise needle drop of "Dinner For Breakfast" by Heavy Gus.
Claudia Dey is an internationally acclaimed author ("Daughter", "Heartbreaker", "Stunt") and fashion designer (HORSES Atelier) from Toronto, Canada. Her novels are insightful, wondrous worlds where form dissolves and visceral incantations emerge. Among other things, Dan and Claudia chat about "farm breasts", being in the moment vs. capturing the moment, the "monkish" discipline required to create great work, how being on the internet is like eating microwaved bacon, and putting your ass in the chair. This episode features a surprise needle drop of "Animal Poem" by Anna Tivel.
You know her from Yellow Jackets and Tron: Ares, it's Vancouver's own Sarah Desjardins! Among other things, Dan and Sarah chat about overthinking the creative process, accidentally exposing kids to R rated movies over your shoulder on a plane, panic attacks, tarot card readings, and how in order to be happy, you have to be willing to be a bit cringey. This episode features a surprise needle drop of "Unsolicited Advice" by Charles Spearin.