ComedyBusinessEntrepreneurship

TanGent Show

Rajiv Satyal

Comedian Rajiv Satyal couldn't pick just one thing. How the heck can you do that in a world so big? And when he's JUST SO SMART? The Cincinnati-born, LA-based standup comic conducts holistic conversations with his guests, who hail from fields as diverse as entertainment, politics, business, religion, and tech.

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#68
Tuesday · 1 hr 4 min
Fahim Anwar
Fahim Anwar is a comedian, actor, writer, and former Boeing engineer who went from doing stand-up in Seattle while working in aerospace to performing on Conan, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and Comedy Central. He's also part of Goatface with Hasan Minhaj, Asif Ali, and Aristotle Athiras, and has appeared in shows like Chuck, The Carmichael Show, and United States of Al. When Fahim and I sat down, we ended up talking about comedy in a way I really enjoy - not just jokes, but the actual mechanics of doing this weird job. We get into the difference between talent and hustle, why Fahim has a romantic notion of letting the comedy speak for itself, and why he'd rather spend hours quietly grinding at The Comedy Store than hand out flyers on Hollywood Boulevard. Fahim explains why he loves the process of "engineering" a joke (appropriate...) and what a bad show can teach you. Watch Fahim's new special "Intrusive Thoughts" Pick up some of Fahim's merch line Follow Fahim: IMDB Website Instagram Facebook X (Twitter) Youtube TikTok
#67
September 18 · 1 hr
Maz Jobrani
Maz Jobrani is a comedian, actor, writer, and a founding member of the comedy group "Axis of Evil". He's built a career talking about culture, politics, immigration, and family, while also appearing on shows like The Colbert Report, Grey's Anatomy, and Superior Donuts. Maz and I go all over the place in this conversation, but underneath all the jokes is a pretty consistent question: how do you build a life around the things you actually love? We talk about why he'd happily keep doing comedy and acting even if he had all the money in the world. He touches on the pressure immigrant parents can put on kids to choose a "real" career, and why he thinks more people should find a way to get closer to the things that make them happy. Maz is remarkably thoughtful about all of it, but he's also exactly the kind of guy who can turn a discussion about finding your purpose into a story about accidentally walking past his mark on The Late Late Show. Watch Maz's most recent special "The Birds & The Bees" Get tickets to see Maz live, on tour! Follow Maz: IMDb Website Instagram Facebook X (Twitter) TikTok Youtube
#66
September 15 · 1 hr 8 min
Sebastian Maniscalco
Sebastian Maniscalco is one of the sharpest observational comedians working today, with a style built around turning everyday annoyances into very specific, very funny outrage. He's gone on to star in films like Green Book and The Irishman, release multiple stand-up specials, and become one of the biggest live comedy acts in the world. When Sebastian and I sat down, I was fascinated by how much of his comedy really does come from simply living his life. He talks about constantly turning new experiences into material and the difference between being funny and actually being good at stand-up. We also get into what makes a comedian's voice distinct and the particular art of letting a joke breathe. Naturally, we get into what pisses Sebastian off. Cheap people. Bad customer service. People staring at their phones instead of interacting with the humans standing right in front of them. Somewhere in there, the conversation turns into a much bigger discussion about manners, work ethic, immigration, and whether being accessible has replaced being mysterious. Watch Sebastian's most recent standup special "It Ain't Right" on Hulu Catch Sebastian on tour! Pick up some of Sebastian's merch! Listen to Sebastian's Podcast "Pete & Sebastian Show" Follow Sebastian: IMDb Website Instagram Facebook X (Twitter) TikTok Youtube
#65
September 11 · 56 min
Vinay Satyal
In this episode, I sat down with an extremely special guest: my dad. He has since passed away, so this recording is extremely special to me. It serves as a lasting memory of the love and kindness he shared with everyone he met. Vinay Kumar Satyal: November 12, 1944 - May 8, 2024
#64
September 8 · 42 min
Payal Kadakia
Payal Kadakia is the founder of ClassPass and the founder and artistic director of The Sa Dance Company, a contemporary Indian dance company. An MIT graduate who went on to work at Bain & Company and Warner Music Group, Payal managed to turn the thing she couldn't imagine giving up (dance) into the foundation for both her artistic career and one of the biggest fitness platforms in the world. Payal and I have known each other for a while, so this conversation has a pretty natural, catching-up feel to it. She tells me about growing up as an Indian kid in New Jersey, being the nerd who also happened to spend her weekends competing in Indian dance, and the process of finally realizing that she didn't have to choose between the different parts of herself. That eventually led her to quit a secure career without a Plan B and build what became ClassPass. Payal doesn't really think of herself as an entrepreneur so much as an inventor. Whether she's building a dance company, a technology platform, or simply designing her own life, she's constantly asking how to create something that makes people feel something they haven't felt before. Her advice to other founders is similarly straightforward - stop obsessing over the name, the office, the lawyers and the marketing, and make sure the actual thing you're creating works first. It's a conversation about ambition, identity, and making room for the things that give you energy instead of treating them like distractions from your "real" career. Watch Payal Kadakia's interview with CBS about how Payal built ClassPass into a billion dollar company. Follow Payal: Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Youtube
#63
September 4 · 35 min
Parvesh Cheena
Parvesh Cheena is an actor and voice performer whose career has taken him from Barbershop to memorable roles in NBC's Outsourced, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, A to Z, and The Mandalorian, along with an extensive run in animation including Transformers: Rescue Bots and Centaurworld. He's been working professionally for two decades, which, as he explains to me, is roughly when you can finally say you're an actor because somebody is actually paying your rent. Parvesh brings the kind of openness that makes it very easy to forget we're recording. He's thoughtful about his career, wonderfully candid about anxiety and therapy, and has a lot to say about identity and the strange boxes we create for ourselves and each other. And because this is Parvesh, even the serious stuff has a sense of humor underneath it. I had a great time sitting down with him, and I think you will too. Follow Parish: IMDb Website Instagram Facebook Pinterest Youtube
#62
September 1 · 1 hr 27 min
Dean Delray
Dean Delray is a stand-up comedian and podcaster who has spent years building a career around two things he clearly loves: comedy and rock and roll. He's the host of the long-running Let There Be Talk podcast, where he's interviewed an incredible range of musicians, comedians, and entertainers, and his own comedy career has taken him from The Comedy Store to touring stages around the country. Dean is one of those people who seems completely incapable of pretending to be interested in something he's not interested in, and honestly, I mean that as a compliment. He's unapologetically obsessed with music, especially the kind of rock records most people have spent decades listening to, and hearing him give me a roadmap for properly getting into The Rolling Stones was worth the conversation by itself. But underneath all the rock-and-roll stories is someone with a genuinely fascinating relationship to comedy. This conversation ran long because Dean has opinions about pretty much everything, and fortunately, he's willing to share them. Music, movies, comedy, smoking, the internet, meeting your idols, and what it means to live a life without many regrets all somehow make their way into the mix. Dean has a serious lust for life, and by the end of our conversation, I found that pretty contagious. Catch Dean on tour! Watch Dean's new special "5836" Grab some of Dean's merch! Follow Dean: IMDb Website Instagram Facebook X (Twitter) Youtube Patreon
#61
August 28 · 35 min
Avantika Vandanapu
Avantika Vandanapu has already had a pretty wild career for someone who started acting as a child. The Bay Area-born actress began working in Telugu cinema before moving into American projects, eventually landing the lead in Disney's Spin and appearing in Senior Year, Mean Girls, Tarot, and Prime Video's Big Girls Don't Cry. We talk about growing up between California and India, starting her career so young, and making the jump from Telugu films to becoming a Disney lead. Her story about getting the Spin audition through her mom's relentless detective work is particularly great, as is the moment when Disney asked her to translate something into Hindi and she realized that understanding a language and actually translating it on command are two very different things. We get into being South Asian, being Gen Z, and how those identities shift depending on the room you're in. We also manage to talk R&B and DJing, and establish that I apparently have enough dad jokes to justify my new(ish) status as a father. Follow Avantika:IMDb Instagram Facebook LinkedIn X (Twitter)
#60
August 25 · 1 hr 4 min
Hari Kondabolu
Hari Kondabolu is a comedian, writer and podcaster whose work has landed him everywhere from Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Conan to Comedy Central, and his documentary The Problem with Apu. He also has a Master's in Human Rights from the London School of Economics, which may explain why a conversation with Hari can go from tennis and punk rock to race, power and colonialism without ever feeling like that much of a detour. Hari and I had actually been talking before we started recording, and at one point we realized, "Wait, this is the conversation." So we hit record and just kept going. I really enjoyed getting into his journey from working in immigrant rights in Seattle and treating comedy as a hobby to accidentally having a career take off around the same time he got accepted to the LSE. We get into why he has such little patience for comedians who hide behind "it's just a joke," the difference between shocking an audience and actually saying something, and why he thinks comedy is art in the first place. Watch Hari's recent comedy special "Vacation Baby" Grab up some Hari Merch Follow Hari:Website IMDb Instagram Facebook Youtube X (Twitter)
#59
August 21 · 51 min
Hasan Minhaj (What Do You Bring to the Table)
The second time Hasan Minhaj joins me on the podcast, we get a little deeper into the question of what it actually means to "make it." By this point, Hasan had already worked on The Daily Show, and released multiple comedy specials, but he was already thinking beyond the next accomplishment and toward the larger body of work he wanted to build. We get into the idea of burning the boats, why the moment of victory is never quite long enough, and the difference between playing offense and playing defense in your career and your life. Hasan also shares some lessons he's picked up from working alongside people like Jerry Seinfeld, Trevor Noah, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, including one particularly good reminder about what happens when fame becomes part of your identity. It's a conversation about ambition, perspective, longevity, and figuring out how to enjoy the thing you're actually doing instead of constantly waiting for whatever comes next. Listen to Hasan Minhaj's Podcast "Hasan Minhaj Doesn't Know" Catch Hasan live on tour for "Hasan Hates Ronny" Follow Hasan:IMDb Instagram Threads Facebook Youtube TikTok Blue Sky
#58
August 18 · 1 hr 12 min
Hasan Minhaj (TanGent Show)
Hasan Minhaj has built one of the most distinctive careers in comedy, from The Daily Show and the White House Correspondents' Dinner to his Peabody, and Emmy-winning Patriot Act and Netflix specials like Homecoming King and The King's Jester. But for me, Hasan is also my old roommate, which makes this episode feel a little different from the usual celebrity interview. We talk about why he chose comedy in the first place, the insecurity and ambition that can fuel a comedian, and why he believes the best comics eventually have to dig deep enough to find themselves. Hasan also has some very strong opinions about Jay-Z, Friends, and whether humanity is actually getting better. It's funny, surprisingly philosophical, and very much a snapshot of Hasan before the rest of the world knew what he was capable of. Listen to Hasan Minhaj's Podcast "Hasan Minhaj Doesn't Know" Catch Hasan live on tour for "Hasan Hates Ronny" Follow Hasan:IMDb Instagram Threads Facebook Youtube TikTok Blue Sky
#57
August 14 · 30 min
Deepak Chopra (What Do You Bring to the Table)
Deepak Chorpa is a bestselling author and one of the most recognizable voices in modern spirituality and wellness. The author of more than 90 books, including The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success and Metahuman, he has spent decades exploring the intersection of consciousness, health, science, and human potential. And this isn't even our first time sitting down together - Deepak has been kind enough to return for another conversation, which gave us a lot more room to go down some pretty interesting rabbit holes. One of the ideas I keep coming back to from this conversation is Deepak's argument that defining yourself can actually limit you. We put ourselves into boxes based on nationality, religion, profession, family, history, even our own names, and then spend a lifetime defending those definitions. Deepak's challenge is much more radical: don't just get out of the box - get rid of the box altogether. For a comedian, that's a pretty irresistible idea to explore. Deepak has a way of taking a seemingly simple question and opening five more doors behind it, so I mostly just tried to keep up. I've now had the chance to sit across from Deepak multiple times, and each conversation seems to leave me with a different question to chew on. This one is no exception. Pre-Order Deepak's upcoming book "Awakening in the Final Chapter: Aging with Grace, Love, and Freedom" Follow Deepak Chopra: Website IMDb LinkedIn Instagram Facebook X (Twitter) Youtube
#56
August 11 · 1 hr 10 min
Ian Edwards
Ian Edwards is a stand-up comedian and writer who has performed on Def Comedy Jam, The Tonight Show, Conan, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and Gotham Comedy Live. He's also written for shows including The Boondocks and Black-ish, but if you ask Ian to describe himself, his answer is much simpler: "lazy and ambitious." That combination pretty much tells you what kind of conversation this is. Ian has a wonderfully sideways way of looking at things, and I get him talking about the strange logic behind his comedy, performing in England, growing up Jamaican American, and the completely ridiculous situations that somehow become great comedy material. There is also a pretty great running battle between Ian's ambition and his laziness - including a day when he woke up early, exercised, watched The Borgias, took a nap, watched more The Borgias, and ultimately considered waking up early to be his major accomplishment. Honestly, I respect the commitment to the bit. Ian is the kind of comedian who can make an ordinary observation feel like a completely new thought, and this episode gives him plenty of room to do exactly that. It's loose, weird, very funny, and full of the kind of stories that make you understand the comedian a little better without ever feeling like we're sitting down for a formal lesson in comedy. Watch Ian's recent special: "Untitled | The Comedy Special You Didn't Know You Needed" Catch Ian on tour Follow Ian Edwards:Punch Up Instagram Facebook X (Twitter) Youtube
#55
August 7 · 18 min
Aparna Nancherla
Aparna Nancherla is a comedian, writer, actress, and bestselling author whose distinctive voice has made her one of the most original comics working today. You've seen her stand-up on Netflix, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and Conan, heard her in BoJack Horseman, and watched her in series like Corporate, The Great North, The Standups, and A Simple Favor. Her memoir, Unreliable Narrator, further cemented her reputation as one of comedy's most thoughtful and honest voices. We sit down over a game of Jenga, but the conversation quickly becomes something much more interesting. We talk about why performing comedy became possible only after confronting depression and anxiety and what it's like to build a career while staying true to a personality that isn't exactly the loudest one in the room. I really appreciated how candid she is about mental health. Nothing feels performative. She's simply willing to talk about experiences that a lot of people quietly carry around every day. Of course, we still make time for the important questions. We debate why people invent terrible excuses for skipping parties, the ethics of overpriced coffee, and whether meditation automatically makes you a better person. Aparna has a quiet confidence that's easy to miss if you're only listening for jokes, but it's exactly what makes her such a compelling comedian. As simple as her advice sounds - "just keep going" - I have a feeling it's going to stick with a lot of people. Order Aparna's book "Unreliable Narrator: My, Myself, and Imposter Syndrome" Watch Aparna's special on Comedy Central's "The Half Hour" Follow Aparna Nancherla: IMDb Website Instagram Facebook Threads Tiktok
#54
August 4 · 1 hr 8 min
Kevin Nealon
Kevin Nealon is a comedian, actor, and writer whose nine-year run on Saturday Night Live produced unforgettable characters like Mr. Subliminal and Hans and Franz. He's also known for starring in Weeds, appearing in films like Happy Gilmore, The Wedding Singer, Grandma's Boy, and Daddy Day Care, and, more recently, for his wonderfully offbeat hiking interview series, Hiking with Kevin. Kevin has one of those comedic brains that never seems to stop wandering, and that's exactly what makes this conversation so much fun. We bounce between stand-up, sketch comedy, life at SNL, and the strange little observations that seem to fuel his humor. I loved hearing him talk about the value of slowing down enough to notice things most people walk right past. It's a perspective that explains a lot about why his comedy has always felt so effortless. Kevin seems incredibly in his own skin. After decades in comedy, there's no sense that he's trying to prove anything. He's curious, playful, and just as happy talking about everyday life as he is sharing stories from one of the most iconic comedy institutions in television history. That's probably why this conversation feels less like an interview and more like spending an afternoon with someone who's mastered the art of finding humor in just about everything. Watch Kevin's full comedy special "Loose in the Crotch" See Kevin on tour Follow Kevin Nealon:Website Instagram Facebook X (Twitter) Youtube
#53
July 28 · 59 min
Chris D'Elia
Chris D'Elia is a stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and podcast host whose career has included starring roles in NBC's Whitney, Undateable, Netflix's You, and The Good Doctor, along with multiple stand-up specials that have made him one of comedy's biggest touring acts. This conversation, though, catches Chris at a fascinating moment - right as Whitney is about to premiere and everything is beginning to take off. I always enjoy looking back at conversations like this because you can hear someone who's excited, grateful, and still very much in "building mode." Chris talks about the years of auditioning before finally landing a network sitcom, why he never wanted success to change the way he approached comedy, and the importance of embracing what makes you different instead of trying to fit someone else's mold. There's a confidence there, but it hasn't crossed into certainty yet, which makes for a really fun snapshot in time. We debate the artistic merits of hip-hop, laugh about his website making fun of rap lyrics, complain about people asking for rides to the airport, and rank movies versus television. It's one of those conversations that constantly bounces between thoughtful and absurd without ever announcing the transition. Watch Chris' recent special "Grow or Die" Catch Chris on tour Listen to Chris' podcast "Congradulations" Shop Chris D'Elia's merch line Follow Chris D'Elia:IMDb Website Instagram Youtube Facebook TikTok X (Twitter)
#54
July 27 · 18 min
Aasif Mandvi
Aasif Mandvi is an actor, comedian, and writer best known for his years as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, along with memorable roles in Evil, The Internship, Spider-Man 2, Million Dollar Arm, and The Last Airbender. As both a performer and outspoken commentator, he's spent years using comedy to examine politics, identity, and the immigrant experience from a perspective that's entirely his own. I knew this conversation would go deep pretty quickly, but I didn't expect us to dive in headfirst quite like we did. We spend a lot of time unpacking the 2016 election, media, representation in Hollywood, and the responsibility that comes with having a platform. Aasif doesn't offer rehearsed talking points. He thinks out loud, challenges assumptions - including some of my own - and isn't afraid to wrestle with ideas that don't have easy answers. That said, this isn't a political debate disguised as a podcast. We also talk about growing up between cultures, the strange expectations placed on South Asian actors, and how comedy can sometimes reach people in ways that facts alone can't. Whether you've followed Aasif since his Daily Show days or know him from his work as an actor, I think you'll appreciate hearing him without a script, a teleprompter, or a character to play. Read Aasif's book "No Land's Man" Follow Aasif Mandvi:IMDb Aasif's Komi Instagram Facebook X (Twitter) TikTok
#52
July 24 · 56 min
Deepica Mutyala
Deepica Mutyala is an entrepreneur, beauty creator, and founder of #LiveTinted, the beauty brand she launched after her viral color-correcting beauty hack introduced millions of people to her perspective on representation in the beauty industry. Before building her own company, she worked at Birchbox, became one of the earliest South Asian creators to break through on YouTube, and has since been recognized by outlets including Forbes and Fast Company for her work in beauty and entrepreneurship. This conversation is all about taking a chance on yourself before anyone else is willing to do so. Deepica tells the story of quitting her job without telling her parents, the emotional moment her dad handed her what he called an "investment" instead of a handout, and how that vote of confidence changed everything. Of course, we still have plenty of fun... We debate Taco Bell with the seriousness of a Supreme Court hearing, compare our favorite late-night work habits, swap stories about social media, and somehow wind up talking about Beyoncé, Rihanna, American history, and why "fake it till you make it" might not be such bad advice after all. But underneath all of that is a conversation about identity, ambition, and building something that didn't exist because you needed it to. Deepica has an infectious optimism that never feels forced. She's ambitious without being performative, confident without pretending she has everything figured out, and refreshingly honest about what success actually looks like. Shop the #LiveTinted Store Follow Deepica:Website Instagram Threads Facebook TikTok Youtube LinkedIn
#51
July 21 · 40 min
Charles Fleischer
Charles Fleischer is an actor, comedian, musician, inventor, and the unmistakable voice of Roger Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Beyond that iconic performance, he's appeared in films like Back to the Future Part II, A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Polar Express, Zodiac, and dozens of television shows while cultivating a lifelong fascination with mathematics, science, music, and invention. I don't think I've ever interviewed anyone quite like Charles. You can ask him about comedy and, two minutes later, you're talking about prime numbers, palindromes, the nature of time, and why the phrase "how do you know?" might be one of the most important questions we can ask ourselves. That's not me exaggerating. That's genuinely where this conversation goes. I was really intrigued with how brilliant Charles is, but also how childlike his sense of wonder remains. He seems genuinely delighted by ideas, whether they're about language, physics, Beethoven, or a simple everyday expression whose origin nobody can quite prove. Follow Charles:IMDb Website Facebook Instagram X (Twitter)
#50
July 17 · 32 min
Nina Davuluri
Nina Davuluri made history as the first Indian-American to be crowned Miss America in 2014. Beyond the title, she's built a career as a speaker and advocate focused on cultural competency, diversity, and identity, using a platform that has taken her everywhere from college campuses across the country to the Oval Office. I really enjoyed this conversation because Nina doesn't shy away from the complicated parts of her story. We talk about growing up as one of the only Indian kids in her school, the stereotypes she found herself answering over and over again, and how those experiences eventually became the foundation for the work she does today. She also shares what it actually felt like to become Miss America, the backlash that followed, and why she believes representation only matters if you're willing to use it for something meaningful. We compare notes on meeting President Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, laugh about our parents' reactions to career choices that definitely weren't part of the original plan, and somehow wind up discussing everything from Veep and Stranger Things to Burger King and Mario Kart. Nina is so thoughtful about success. She isn't interested in being defined by a crown, and she's refreshingly honest about the pressure that comes with being "the first." This was a conversation about identity, purpose, and figuring out how to use whatever platform life gives you. Book Individual Beauty Sessions with Nina! Follow Nina Davuluri:Website IMDb Nina's Link Page Instagram Youtube LinkedIn

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