Alison Rosen Is Your New Best Friend

Latest Episodes:

Nibbles McGee's Big Adventure Feb 25, 2016

Show notes

You guys, I fell off the carb wagon, and how, so I talked about that in a shameful #SnackChat segment. We also talked about Scotch kisses, butterfly kisses, people who live in glass houses, something called Meat Dip, a stirring open letter to the salsa industry, the mindfuck pulled by The Bachelor's Caila, an upcoming ski trip and so much more. Plus we did a round of Just Me Or Everyone and talked about a dog named Gwen who is available for adoption.

Alex Blagg Feb 22, 2016

Show notes

Alex Blagg is the kind of overachiever who makes you feel as if you aren't doing enough with your life/career, but in a completely charming way. In addition to being the co-creator and executive producer of @midnight, he writes for Workaholics, helms (along with two partners) a successful production company, writes feature scripts and is raising twins. And he doesn't even seem stressed. We talked about what brought him to this point: growing up the son of "cool Jesus" parents, moving around, renouncing the fratboy path he was headed down in favor of film and literature, doing comedy, working as the managing editor for the Best Week Ever site, taking a job in LA that was ultimately demoralizing and then inadvertently turning his own life into performance art/parody as a social media and tech guru also named Alex Blagg. We also talked about his addiction to flossies, how he met his wife, getting sober eight years ago and more. Plus we took your questions over Twitter and did a round of Just Me Or Everyone.

Personality Quizzes and Tupperware Angst Feb 18, 2016

Show notes

Before recording this episode we all took the Keirsey Temperament Sorter personality quiz and then revealed our results on air. Then #AL told us what it all means according to David Keirsey's Please Understand Me and what each of our personal hells would look like. It was surprising to learn which members of the gang have the same personality types. We also talked about important matters like people who steal Tupperware. Plus we discussed "No Substitution" policies at restaurants and did a round of Just Me Or Everyone.

Gustavo Arellano Feb 15, 2016

Show notes

I knew Gustavo way back when I was leaving the OC Weekly and he was starting there. He came out of nowhere it seemed and was suddenly writing a zillion articles a week which, I heard at the time, didn't exactly endear him to the other writers. He went on to gain attention and notoriety with his now nationally syndicated "Ask a Mexican" column, author three books and become the editor-in-chief of the paper. He also regularly appears on radio programs and is a consulting producer on Fox's animated Bordertown. We chatted about his beginnings and how he got to where he is today including growing up the son of "Mexican hillbillies," not quite fitting in, falling in love with film and Pulp Fiction in particular, being a nerd, being repeatedly unaware of office politics, the satirical letter that changed his life, his relationship with former OC Weekly editor Will Swaim and so much more. We also took your questions over Twitter and did a round of Just Me Or Everyone.

Bunk Beds, Chopped Salad and Special Guest Susie Meister Feb 11, 2016

Show notes

We're minus #AL but plus special guest Susie Meister on this episode where we talked about our different interpretations of a common cliche, which is the better bunk bed should one find him or herself needing to bunk, Greg's issue with chopped salads, meeting Janae, Party Girl and other assorted Kim Jones Mosses at Samantha's baby blessing and so much more. We also talked about lady's underwear and #GALCHAT. Plus we did a round of Just Me Or Everyone.

Michael Ian Black Feb 08, 2016

Show notes

I've been a fan of actor, writer and comedian Michael Ian Black for years so it was a real treat to have him stop by my podcast during one of his trips to Los Angeles. We talked about his podcast How to Be Amazing and his approach to interviewing before delving into some of the meatier topics explored in his most recent book—which I loved and highly recommend—Navel Gazing: True Tales of Bodies, Mostly Mine (but also my mom's which I know sounds weird). We chatted about growing up in a home filled with rage, growing up without much male influence, his gay-but-not-aware-of-it-yet mother being subjected to shock treatment by her parents and his theories about what led to this, his choice to live in Connecticut and thoughts about Los Angeles, whether people expect him to be more snarky than he is and his desire to be a good person. Plus we took your questions over Twitter and did a round of Just Me Or Everyone.

Barnhouses, Broken Noses and the Birth of a New Segment Feb 04, 2016

Show notes

We got to the bottom of what #AL knows on this episode and we also debuted a new segment that Greg can't remember the name of. Plus we debated precious notebooks, talked about the whereabouts of Jenna and Al's baby, discussed the butt stuff that does or does not go on in fraternities and did a round of Just Me Or Everyone. Also: oodles of other stuff!

Jake Fogelnest Feb 01, 2016

Show notes

I like to think I was something of a precocious whippersnapper, but writer, director, producer, podcaster, television personality Jake Fogelnest (Wet Hot American Summer, Billy On The Street, Difficult People) has me beat. At age 7 he wanted to be John Waters... and then actually contacted and spoke with John Waters. (I merely wrote a fan letter to animal expert Joan Embery and received a perfunctory written reply.) He went on to host a public access show, Squirt TV, from his bedroom in Manhattan which was later picked up by MTV all before going to rehab at the age of 17. Eventually he found UCB which is when, he says, his real career began. We discussed all this plus Terry Gross, The Monkees, the difference between Adam Driver and Ryan Seacrest, sobriety, resentments, self-care, selling out and so much more. We also took your questions over Twitter and did a round of Just Me Or Everyone.

Statistics, Probability, Tension and Soup Jan 28, 2016

Show notes

Ok look, this was a weird show. There was tension, embarrassment, statistics and probability (part of our fledgling "What Does #AL Know" segment), egg talk, a discussion of soup, music and whether it's better to have a lot of lights on or very few. Also we did a round of Just Me Or Everyone!

Kate Micucci Jan 25, 2016

Show notes

I first met comedian, musician, actress and artist Kate Micucci years ago when she and Riki Lindhome performed live as Garfunkel & Oates at my first live Alison Rosen Is Your New Best Friend show at UCB. I've wanted to have her on the show solo to really delve into all things Kate ever since. On this episode we talked about the ways in which she's the same as she was as a kid, what she was like as a kid and her close relationship with her parents, crying at school because she missed them, being a late bloomer, her first kiss, going to three colleges, her love of sunsets, puppet making, her favorite musicals, school dances, hitchhiking and why she stopped, being poor, how she broke into commercials, meeting Riki and writing their goals on napkins (she still carries one with her to this day), sitcoms, relationships, being sheltered, swearing and so much more. We also took your questions over Twitter and did a round of Just Me Or Everyone.