Arthur Brooks | The Science of Happiness and Humor | Mike Birbiglia’s Working It Out

1. 

   @SpookyDS

   December 21, 2025 at 11:01 am

   The charity this guy chose pays for speakers (usually right wing and/or christian) to go to a short list of some of the wealthiest private universities in the country. It's very likely they've paid for him to give talks. Dude might as well have given out his personal Venmo.

2. 

   @penguinista

   December 21, 2025 at 11:01 am

   You should mark the end of the 'coming up' section at the beginning. It is annoying to get to a part in get conversation and have it be a guaranteed waste of my time, especially when it is selected to be the best part of the conversation. So I want to ski[p it, but you make it very difficult, so I end up skipping the first five minutes and calling it good.

3. 

   @ansleyf.j.8375

   December 21, 2025 at 11:01 am

   Faith ≠ going to church/any religious doctrine

4. 

   @TaylorL4664

   December 21, 2025 at 11:01 am

   You should just "open your heart" to anything. That's how you get tricked…

   I'm out.

5. 

   @AllEarthlingsTogether

   December 21, 2025 at 11:01 am

   was great, and MV is superb!
   (in spite of AB clown looking shirt), until it became clear AB believes in the deleterious mythology of religion. so sad.

6. 

   @AllTheStoriesEveryWhere

   December 21, 2025 at 11:01 am

   "Birbiglia and Brooks" is a recurring podcast that would be on my playlist for sure.😍

7. 

   @liljamj

   December 21, 2025 at 11:01 am

   13:51 Expressing gratitude. Mikes joke: “I started a gratitude journal recently. So far, it’s empty, but I’m hopeful.” Yep that tickles the part of my brain that Arthur was talking about at the top of the episode 🤭

8. 

   @kobbyfoof

   December 21, 2025 at 11:01 am

   This guy’s complete disinterest in Mike’s lack of religion is exactly what’s wrong with religious people. Mike says he isn’t religious, expresses no actual regret about that choice, and is immediately confronted with a list of the religious activities he “should” do. I would expect more from somebody whose life work is about human psychology.

   It was an interesting conversation up to that point ,then he lost me. Maybe I’ll keep listening to see if he expresses any humility about his own beliefs and the possibility that he might be wasting his time on fairly tales.

9. 

   @GhostJellyfish13

   December 21, 2025 at 11:01 am

   This dude is spot one when he says he uses brain anatomy to sound smart.

10. 

    @KS-qz8fp

    December 21, 2025 at 11:01 am

    This was fascinating! 40 mins flew by & I should probably watch it again, there's so much to absorb. I'm looking forward to part 2. Btw, this exchange @ 39:39 & the "huh" is an endearing moment. 💕

11. 

    @johnyoung1488

    December 21, 2025 at 11:01 am

    I would love Mike to come to the Lord with an open heart. He seems like such a great guy and a loving person. I pray for the Holy Spirit to convict Mike of the Truth, the resurrection of Christ and to lead his family to Christ.

12. 

    @comoed4978

    December 21, 2025 at 11:01 am

    took notes, sent to the link to others. This was one of the most amazing podcasts. Thank you!

13. 

    @robwakeman

    December 21, 2025 at 11:01 am

    What an awful episode. M: "I have enormous respect for people of faith." A: "Here's why I have no respect for nonbelievers." Gross rightwing proselytizing gobbledygook in disguise as "social science."

14. 

    @NickPaulMagicPerson

    December 21, 2025 at 11:01 am

    This might be the greatest episode. Thank you!

15. 

    @shannonrolfes5171

    December 21, 2025 at 11:01 am

    Great combo! The science of comedy!

16. 

    @charleshendrix232

    December 21, 2025 at 11:01 am

    Interesting discussion

17. 

    @CM-pn1lk

    December 21, 2025 at 11:01 am

    Wow! 🤯 mind blowing 🤯 ❤

18. 

    @CantGoForThat

    December 21, 2025 at 11:01 am

    Hi Mike–I'm an elder millennial who is a Catholic (feminist) theologian at Georgetown (ever heard of it?? lol). Huge fan of your work. Anyway, I just wanted to say that feelings are more involved in religious affiliation than Arthur implies (i.e., the idea that it's practices, then beliefs sometimes, then feelings occasionally is pretty simplistic). So if you're not feeling it after a Catholic upbringing, that's really important to listen to and take seriously. I say this as somebody who teaches about religious trauma and sexual violence, so! You don't need to start practicing if it's not for you, lol. Sorry I'll stop professor-ing now; I just couldn't let that viewpoint go unchallenged. Thank you for all that you do.

19. 

    @sbon4771

    December 21, 2025 at 11:01 am

    I enjoyed hearing about the ways that speaking and doing comedy overlap and do not overlap. Also, more women comics, please ❤

20. 

    @thinklikeadog007

    December 21, 2025 at 11:01 am

    Wisdom spoken at you, at lightening speed sounds a lot like bullshit. Least favorite guest so far. More like rubbing it out than working it out. Jeesh, sorry I was so harsh.

21. 

    @summershort

    December 21, 2025 at 11:01 am

    Mike – I feel the the way you say "yeah" and "right" …like, I get it…mostly, maybe…what's that word and please don't ask me to say this back to you 🙂

22. 

    @peppesimone4897

    December 21, 2025 at 11:01 am

    Thanks for the interview, it was a lot to take in and think about.. I'm from the make it up as you go along club, the rules are for those who believe in rules, life is far to serious to take importantly.
    x
    %^)

23. 

    @matthewblair8877

    December 21, 2025 at 11:01 am

    Ironically, a truly joyless interview. More wisdom in Pete Holmes' pinky finger than those mighty evangelical biceps, haha.

24. 

    @t.dratum

    December 21, 2025 at 11:01 am

    Remember when you called DiPaolo a moron? This was nearly as good as that 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

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