As I became very conscious and more aware of things I got very into the beatniks and that kind of stuff. They were very important to me for a few years.

When you're a kid, you always feel you have this weird kindred-spirit thing with other Jews, until you get older and you realize it's just middle-class bourgeois Jews that sort of fit a template that your family fits into one way or another.

Most of my comedy writing happens through improvisation on stage; doing it in the moment. Going up with an idea and fleshing it out over time on stage and in front of people until it becomes a full bit.

I’m glad to be part of the war on sadness. I’m a part time employee of the illusion that keeps people stupid.

I'm just looking for authentic engagement of some kind, and usually, after an hour or more, you get that. Some people talk at you. Some people just want to answer questions, but a lot of times, all of a sudden you drift away, and you don't remember you're on the mic, and you're in something real.

I don't make a list of questions. Ever. I think a lot of my interviews are driven by my need to feel connection.

Because we're comics and we pass each other on campus, we know of each other, and a lot of the time there's a mutual respect there.