Episode 209

Paula Poundstone’s incandescently brilliant wit and comedic wisdom are world renowned and she is widely celebrated as an author, radio personality, voice actor, podcaster and touring comic. Paula is carving her indelible imprint into popular culture and she shares with us her decades of show biz stories, insights and observations.

One of the most recognizable voices on NPR, Paula takes us backstage with Garrison Keillor and the Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me team, for a peek into the creation of legendary radio broadcasts.

As an author, Paula taps into her courage, her curiosity and her personal experiences to amuse and inspire. Her book, There's Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say, features parallels Paula has discovered between her own history and that of additional legendary figures such as Joan of Arc and Beethoven. Her newest book, The totally Unscientific Study of the Search for Human Happiness finds Paula seeking happiness through various means, including taekwondo, mediation, volunteering, camping and renting a Lamborghini. Fritz and Weezy find that happiness lies in hearing Paula talk about this book.

Paula then discusses standup history, writing, travel, crowd work, East and West Coast clubs, comedy scenes across time zones and decades, and the rivalries between key L.A. venues which made or broke careers. Fritz and Paula dig deep into standup experiences and shared backgrounds for a a masterclass in the spirit and ethos of standup comedy!