Natalie Palamides | Wisdom from a Modern Clown | Mike Birbiglia’s Working It Out
Natalie Palamides is a writer and performer best known for her avant-garde comedy shows Laid, Nate, and WEER. She’s eaten raw eggs on stage, fondled audience members (with their consent), and played both halves of a feuding couple in a way that has to be seen to be believed. Mike and Natalie discuss how Natalie’s formal training in clowning informs her creative process, and they break down the philosophical differences between birthday clowns and theater clowns. Plus, Natalie explains the times that literally wresting with audience members nearly went wrong.
Please consider donating to: the Elysian – https://www.elysiantheater.com
Get tickets for Natalie’s show in London here – https://sohotheatre.com/events/natalie-palamides-weer-4/
Listen and subscribe to the Working It Out here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mike-birbiglias-working-it-out/id1515419751
Find Mike:
Website: https://birbigs.com/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/birbigs/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/birbigfans
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@mikebirbiglia
Find Natalie:
Website: https://nataliepalamides.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliepalamides/
Hosted and Produced by Mike Birbiglia
Producers: Peter Salomone, Joseph Birbiglia, Mabel Lewis, Gary Simons
Video Consultant: Graham Willoughby
Special Thanks: Marissa Hurwitz, Josh Upfal, David Raphael, Nina Cwik, J. Hope Stein, Oona
Sound Mix: Shubh Saran
Supervising Engineer: Kate Bilinski
Music: Jack Antonoff and Bleachers
@DashaFayvinova
January 27, 2026 at 10:17 am
I saw Natalie's show Laid when I first moved to LA and was completely blown away. She is so singularly talented and just a true artist
@crusadercrew
January 27, 2026 at 10:17 am
What a devastatingly adorable young lady 🥰
@preciousgorgeousralf137
January 27, 2026 at 10:17 am
My contention is Mr Bean is the great modern heir to the throne of Chaplin… but the one other wholly appropriate name to throw in that the ring that everyone misses, is Martin Lawrence. I think Martin Lawrence is the closest we’ve seen to Chaplin in the last 30 yrs in terms of magnitude, scale, originality, and volume of physical comedy.
@knotgreen
January 27, 2026 at 10:17 am
Weer was such a special singular thing. Cannot wait to see whatever Natalie does next.
@Kibble909v1
January 27, 2026 at 10:17 am
Really enjoyed Nats perspective on clowning and as someone who uses their voice to create characters I really took a lot away from this one. (Mostly Chelsea Clinton booby fantasies but some other clown shit too)
@anthonychilds8193
January 27, 2026 at 10:17 am
Chevy Chase in his SNL days for sure
@unconcernedsalad2
January 27, 2026 at 10:17 am
fascinating insight into modern clown. as a visual comedy fan this was really great
@johnmcdairmant3498
January 27, 2026 at 10:17 am
Woo
@Jenny_Oblivion
January 27, 2026 at 10:17 am
Really cool to hear about how feedback affected art. When I was in art school, I thought of critiques as helpful. ❤ collaborations!
@mikeisms
January 27, 2026 at 10:17 am
Interesting release time, Mr. Mike! Can't wait to hear the circumstances explaining your unusually late in the day upload. I expect it'll be bombastic, to say the least!
@begood4919
January 27, 2026 at 10:17 am
I want what ever anti depressants she is on , much love honesty though being full clown is mind blowing to me
@simonfea2
January 27, 2026 at 10:17 am
Please tell Nate I said what's up!!! He knows me. ❤❤❤
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