Ep. 231 - Jim Norton: Dropout and Laugh (A Comedian's Journey)

Jim Norton is the reason why I do podcasts. First, he's a world-famous comedian, recently released a one hour special on Netflix, has been on shows like "Louie" and "Inside Amy Schumer" has written two New York Times bestselling books and has appeared on countless radio shows and podcasts. But just as interesting to me...we grew up together. The first day Jim moved into town we were in fourth grade. Rather than keeping his mouth shut like anyone else just moving into town he immediately started making everyone laugh. Day one we were laughing so hard I thought my stomach was going to break. We all said out loud that day (Jim doesn't remember but I do), "you should be a comedian". And he did. He did! I like when my podcast combines the personal and the professional. Combines my own story with the story of someone achieving peak performance in an area of life that I love. Comedy is not just about making people laugh. And being a standup comedian is not just about "standing up" in front of a crowd of people and telling jokes. Comedy is about observing the hidden truths in life that everyone knows but nobody has ever quite articulated. And standup is about how to articulate that truth in such a way that people feel momentarily unsafe and confused (the setup), and relieved (the punchline). But that's only one theory of comedy. There are many. And so I wanted to try it for myself. I've been doing it now a few times a week for two months. It's hard! It's the most difficult thing I've ever tried to get good at. So I asked Jim, who has been doing it all of his life, to come on the podcast. Here are some things I learned: Make Mistakes - listen at [8:08] I told Jim I was afraid to bomb. To tell a joke and have nobody laugh. "Bombing is what we learn from the most," Jim said. "It's not about how to avoid bombing. You will fall flat all the time. It's about getting up after that." "I left myself no safety net," he said. "I started when I was 21. I didn't have a diploma. I got a GED three years after I got sober. I have no high school diploma... So I knew it was going to be this or nothing." Sometimes to survive the biggest pains on the way up, you have to fly without a safety net. You have to fall. The way to hit the top tier in any area of life is to figure out where the line is, and go beyond that line. If you aren't failing, then you aren't trying to be unique. You aren't going to be the top tier. Find Time to Laugh at Yourself - listen at [14:45] Comedy is about connection. You tell something about your life, something honest and true and usually uncomfortable. The comedians job is to transform your pain. Like an alchemist. "I make fun of myself," Jim said. "I give my own personal examples, but I think if I'm doing that at least I'm being truthful and I'm not coming from a place of thinking I'm better than that guy... like who am I?" They laugh because it's a safe way for people to experience their own demons. You can get close enough to the shadows of your life without the fear of being overrun by guilt or shame. It's a chance for us all to be a little more human, a little more honest and a little more free. The Umbrella Theory - listen at [28:50] Jim just started writing another book. He's on TV. He's touring. He's got a radio show (Jim Norton and Sam Roberts on Sirius), he has a podcast. He works with incredible talent. And is always looking for new material from his own life. "You can't just be lazy," he said. "I talked to Chris Rock recently and I know it sounds like I'm name dropping, but I'm not. "That's a total name drop," I said. "But I didn't mean it like that..." We talked about Chris Rock's career. He stopped touring. He hadn't been on the road for seven years. But yet you still hear his name all the time. He's hosting the Oscars, testing out material at clubs, etc. To succeed in any area, right now list all the things that... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.