What compels Margaret Cho to perform comedy?

She states that the primary compulsions are the need to be heard, to make people laugh, to express things that need to be said, and to have a good time. This impulse has been present since she was about eight years old.

Who were Margaret Cho's early comedy inspirations?

Her main inspiration early on and until recently was Joan Rivers, whom she admired for her fearlessness, strength, raunchy humor, and especially for teaching her about gratitude.

What are Margaret Cho's techniques for dealing with hecklers?

Instead of pre-scripted responses, she prefers to engage hecklers, trying to understand their motivation for disrupting the show. She learned from Paula Poundstone and believes that sometimes these disruptions can create unique and memorable moments.

What non-stand-up influences have shaped Margaret Cho's performance?

She draws inspiration from musicians like Madonna, Chrissie Hynde, Björk, and the performance style of Janis Joplin. She also humorously recounts a pet psychic telling her her dog thought she was a singer.

Was Margaret Cho ever nervous about discussing sensitive topics like sexuality?

She was cautious when younger, particularly about revealing her bisexuality due to management advice. However, she realized the importance of authenticity and stopped hiding her identity.

What led Margaret Cho to address prescription pill addiction?

She realized the severity of her addiction when she experienced significant memory gaps and felt a degradation of her brain function, prompting her to discard her medication and disclose her struggle.

What are the key principles of the Slow Carb Diet's 'cheat day'?

The cheat day is designed to contain damage by scheduling it, help prevent metabolic slowdown, and satisfy cravings. It's recommended to avoid feeling restricted on this day.

How can one manage the digestive discomfort sometimes experienced on cheat days?

Suggestions include avoiding gluten, focusing on carb-rich foods like sweet potatoes instead of wheat flour, or having a slow-carb compliant meal early in the day to naturally inhibit appetite.

Why does Tim Ferriss advocate for tactical excess over moderation?

He believes humans are not naturally good at moderation, citing examples like alcoholics who find it easier to abstain completely than to moderate. The 'cheat day' in the diet is an example of this tactical excess.

What are Margaret Cho's pre-performance rituals?

Her pre-performance routine is variable due to different locations and social settings. It can involve a nice meal, reading a biography, or having some wine, typically a dry Shiraz or Malbec.

Where can people find Margaret Cho online?

Margaret Cho can be found on her website MargaretCho.com, Twitter (@MargaretCho), Facebook (mother show), and Instagram (@margaret_cho).

Key Moments

Margaret Cho Interview (Full Episode) | The Tim Ferriss Show (Podcast)

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Margaret Cho on comedy, sexuality, addiction, and the slow-carb diet.

Key Insights

Comedian Margaret Cho identifies primarily as a stand-up comic, driven by a need to be heard, make people laugh, and express important ideas since childhood.

Joan Rivers was a major inspiration, admired for her fearlessness, resilience, and profound lesson in gratitude, acting as a mentor.

Cho takes significant risks in her performances by improvising and engaging deeply with the audience, leading to potential 'crash and burn' moments but also unique shows.

She approaches hecklers by seeking to understand their motivations rather than just shutting them down, learning from them as part of the performance.

Cho discusses her past struggles with prescription pill addiction, emphasizing the secrecy and legitimacy surrounding it, and the importance of disclosure for recovery.

The conversation delves into the slow-carb diet, discussing its 'cheat day' strategy, biochemical and psychological shifts, and the benefit of reduced hunger and food obsession.

DEFINING IDENTITY AS A MULTI-HYPHENATE COMEDIAN

Margaret Cho primarily identifies as a stand-up comedian, a passion that began at age eight when she decided it would be her profession and identity. While also a successful author, actress, singer-songwriter, and fashion designer, her core drive remains to express herself, connect with audiences through laughter, and address topics that need to be spoken. She finds comedy to be a sustaining force, her livelihood, social life, and pastime, a sentiment she believes many comedians share.

INSPIRATION AND THE PRACTICE OF GRATITUDE

Joan Rivers stands out as a pivotal inspiration for Margaret Cho, particularly her unwavering fearlessness and strength as a female performer. Rivers taught Cho the immense value of gratitude, a lesson that shaped her perspective on her career and life. While Cho doesn't maintain a daily gratitude practice like journaling, she embraces gratitude as an attitude, feeling fortunate and happy to do what she loves, which sustains her motivation.

THE ART AND RISK OF LIVE COMEDY PERFORMANCE

Cho embraces a high-risk approach to stand-up, often foregoing scripts to improvise and connect with audiences on a personal level. This method, while potentially leading to 'crash and burn' moments, allows for unpredictable and unique shows. She views this constant building from scratch, plugging into a potentially 'divine' energy, as the essence of live performance and a source of her comedic drive, despite the inherent danger.

NAVIGATING HECK CKLERS AND AUDIENCE INTERACTION

Instead of pre-scripted responses, Margaret Cho's strategy for dealing with hecklers involves engagement and curiosity, aiming to understand their disruptive motivation. She credits comedian Paula Poundstone for teaching her to explore these moments, potentially creating new material or narratives within the show. This approach transforms potential disruptions into unique performance elements, only failing if the heckler is excessively inebriated.

JOURNEY THROUGH ADDICTION AND THE SEARCH FOR SANITY

Cho candidly discusses her past struggle with prescription pill addiction, particularly opiates, highlighting the insidious nature of these drugs when prescribed by doctors. She describes a period of memory loss and a feeling of her brain 'deleting files,' which catalyzed her decision to stop. Disclosing this addiction, even though it didn't lead to full sobriety in terms of alcohol, was crucial for her mental clarity and recovery, emphasizing honesty as a path to greater sanity.

THE SLOW-CARB DIET AND GAINING CONTROL OVER FOOD

The conversation shifts to the slow-carb diet, with Cho sharing her positive experience of reduced hunger and food obsession. Tim Ferriss explains the diet's 'cheat day' mechanism, designed to manage cravings and metabolic fluctuations. They discuss strategies for making cheat days less physically taxing, like choosing specific carb sources, beginning the day with a slow-carb meal, and the psychological shift that occurs when food ceases to be an all-consuming focus.

UNDERSTANDING DIETARY COMPLIANCE AND BODY CHANGES

Ferriss emphasizes that adherence to a diet plan is more critical than perfection. The slow-carb diet is presented as an accessible 'gateway drug' to healthier eating habits. He notes that initial weight loss might be slow for some women due to muscle gain and visceral fat loss, encouraging focus on how one feels and clothes fitting differently rather than solely the scale. He also highlights the importance of modifying cheat days to be luxurious rather than simply excessive.

THE IMPACT OF MEDIA AND HOLLYWOOD CULTURE

Cho reflects on her inspirations from female rock singers like Madonna and Chrissie Hynde, and the performance style of Janis Joplin. She likens her performance style to a 'singer's motive.' Discussing Hollywood, she notes that while many therein may be 'tortured,' others find happiness through sobriety, programs, or faith. Dave Grohl is cited as an example of a successful, joyful individual, possibly linked to the physical and positive outlet of drumming.

REACHING YOUR AUDIENCE GLOBALLY

Cho's successful international touring illustrates her ability to connect with diverse audiences. She finds Scandinavian and Northern European countries, particularly Germany, to be very receptive to her brash style of comedy and discussions on sexuality. Conversely, countries with strong Catholic or conservative social structures, like Italy and Spain, can be more challenging due to cultural norms around discussing sexuality openly.

RITUALS AND REFLECTIONS ON SUCCESS

Before performances, Cho's hour often involves a meal, reading, or simply navigating the unique social settings of each venue. She may enjoy a glass of dry red wine like Shiraz or Malbec. Reflecting on success, she admires visionaries like Steve Jobs. Cho feels successful herself, proud of her sustained, visible career over two decades, and sees her progress on the slow-carb diet as a significant personal achievement, making her feel younger.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Companies

●Books

●Drugs & Medications

●Concepts

●People Referenced

Margaret Cho's Insights on Comedy and Life

Practical takeaways from this episode

Do This

Embrace fearlessness and take risks in your performance and life.

Practice gratitude daily, recognizing the gifts you've received.

Engage with challenges like hecklers by seeking to understand their motivation.

Develop a writing practice, even if it's just 'morning pages,' to process your thoughts.

When experimenting with diets, prioritize adherence over perfection.

Consider the psychological and biochemical shifts that accompany dietary changes.

If trying to manage cheat days, ensure they satisfy cravings to prevent backsliding.

In Hollywood, seek out individuals who have actively worked on their well-being.

Incorporate physical activity, like drumming, as part of your routine.

Test new material internationally for audience feedback and development.

When consuming meat, opt for high-quality, grass-fed options.

Look for luxurious and high-quality food options even on non-cheat days.

Avoid This

Don't be afraid to be vulnerable or reveal personal truths on stage.

Don't let fear of judgment prevent you from expressing yourself authentically.

Don't rely solely on autopilot; build your performance from scratch each time.

Avoid excessive alcohol when combining with medication like Ambien or opiates; it is dangerous.

Don't expect immediate dramatic scale changes on the scale in the first 1-2 weeks of a diet, especially for women.

Don't solely rely on the scale; pay attention to how your clothes fit and how you feel.

Don't view snacking as a necessity; it's often a habitual behavior stemming from an out-of-whack insulin response.

Don't think of diets as only restrictive; they are just the food you consume.

Avoid comparing yourself to the idealized image of success without considering the potential downsides.

Avoid thinking that moderation is always achievable; for some, abstinence is easier.

Common Questions

Margaret Cho primarily identifies as a stand-up comedian, although she acknowledges being a multi-hyphenate due to her work in fashion design, singing, songwriting, and acting.

Topics

Mental Health & Psychology Mindset & Self-Improvement Stand-Up Comedy Addiction Recovery Body Image Dieting Strategies Performance Anxiety Comedic Influences Sexuality And Gender Personal Growth

Mentioned in this video

Media

Sex and the City

A TV series Margaret Cho has appeared in.

30 Rock

A TV series Margaret Cho has appeared in.

Dancing with the Stars

A TV show Margaret Cho has participated in.

Karate Kid

A film referenced to describe the mentorship style of Joan Rivers.

The Tim Ferriss Show

The podcast where this interview is taking place, focused on dissecting excellence.

People

Margaret Cho

A celebrated stand-up comedian, actress, singer-songwriter, and fashion designer featured in this interview.

Tim Ferriss

Host of The Tim Ferriss Show and author of 'The 4-Hour Body'.

Pat Morita

Mentioned as a comparison to Joan Rivers' mentorship style, like Mr. Miyagi from Karate Kid.

Paula Poundstone

A comedian and genius at handling hecklers, from whom Margaret Cho learned techniques.

Elizabeth Taylor

Subject of a biography Margaret Cho is reading, representing a flamboyant but tortured Hollywood figure.

Steve Jobs

The first person Margaret Cho thinks of when considering the definition of success, due to his visionary status.

Janis Joplin

A singer whose performance style Margaret Cho would like to emulate as a comedian.

Robin Williams

A comedian whose loss, along with Joan Rivers', is felt deeply by the comedy community.

Joan Rivers

A major inspiration and mentor to Margaret Cho, admired for her fearlessness and gratitude.

Chrissie Hynde

A rock singer and influence on Margaret Cho.

Anna Nicole Smith

Mentioned as a tragic example of the dangers of combining Ambien and opiates, which led to her death.

Dave Grohl

Described as a very happy, humorous, generous, kind, and fantastic artist, potentially due to drumming's physical activity.

Drugs & Medications

Adderall

A stimulant medication mentioned in the context of how individuals with ADHD or similar tendencies might crave stimulants for focus.

Ritalin

A stimulant medication mentioned in the context of how individuals with ADHD or similar tendencies might crave stimulants for focus.

Books

The 4-Hour Body

A book by Tim Ferriss, mentioned in relation to the slow carb diet and its effectiveness, with a special photoshoot showing results.

Software & Apps

99designs

An online marketplace for graphic designers used by Tim Ferriss for book cover concepts.

Companies

ExOfficio

A clothing company, particularly noted for its lightweight, quick-drying, and antimicrobial underwear, recommended for travel.

Concepts

Slow Carb Diet

A diet protocol discussed in detail, focusing on specific food choices to promote fat loss and adherence.

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