Episode 121: Christian Finnegan

[gfyourself]

The standup comedian (Comedy Central Presents, Chapelle’s Show, Best Week Ever, Countdown with Keith Olberman) opens up about the tragedy and parental mental illness that shaped his childhood and still affects him today as well as his struggle to trust and feel confident about his future.

[Herself]

I've always liked Christian Finnegan's comedy & was excited to listen to this episode. But Jesus, the pain in his voice! I just wanna mail him cookies or a puppy or something! He's really gone thru a lot of hurt!

[shanarchy]

I agree with Paul, Christian is the fucking sweetest guy.

Also, I can relate about loving his dog. I tell my pets they are adorable and I love them all the time. But, even though I'll be celebrating our 11th wedding anniversary, I don't tell my dear husband the same. Isn't not that I don't love him, it's because my family never spoke to me that way. I feel awkward when I think of telling him. It feels fake, stupid, artificial.

...and another thing, you guys in the penis club seem to me much like the Bible fanatics when you take what you see in porn so literally. Neither the Bible, nor porn can be taken literally! So stop obsessing about your size and start realizing her most powerful sex organ is the brain!

[Fargin]

Big fan of Paul's unapologetic F U in the beginning, not so much because specific e-mail, but I just loved the delivery.

I thought it was great that Christian allowed himself to go deep a couple of times, talking about his dog and dad.

...and another thing, you guys in the penis club seem to me much like the Bible fanatics when you take what you see in porn so literally. Neither the Bible, nor porn can be taken literally! So stop obsessing about your size and start realizing her most powerful sex organ is the brain!

Showering at the public indoors swimming pool in the 6-7th grade and discovering that my best friend had developed what can only be described as a giant slong, cure me of all my inadequacies. I remember thinking, who does one go around living with such a thing, let alone wear pants.

[marathonbar]

Great episode. I hope that someday soon he realizes how much people will respect him and stand by him if he decides to cut his mother out of his life. He shouldn't feel beholden to her just because she's had a shit life. I so wanted to hug him!

[pearl2]

After a heckuva week, dealing with multiple people in my life with mental illness and struggling with my own anxiety issues, this episode centered me in a very 'we are all dealing with the things and the people all the time' way. Christian is, as Paul remarked, so articulate and it is so brave of him to open himself up this way. Best best best of luck to him.

[duck1]

love it (almost done), such an intimiate converstaion.

[ET101]

Wow. Just listening to Christian go so deep in a way that seemed to surprise himself and really unload was amazing. One of the best episodes.
I had just submitted a survey a few days ago and answered the how to make the podcast better by saying Paul should have a guest on who was really in the thick of it with his/her struggle. I needed to hear that.
Good luck Christian. Thank you so much for sharing.

[gfyourself]

This was really a great episode... I had to go back, listen again and list all the things I liked.
These are the things I really identified with (or have other comments on)

39(th minute) - building his life around "not caring"... issues in life accrue faster than the explanations of how (he doesn't care) (may be getting that one wrong, not sure)
41 - being "appetizer rich"
44 - envious of people who just do stuff with out second guessing themselves (totally agree)
47 - if you don't have kids, you should be doing something great (I totally agree with this... what the hell am I doing with my life, come home get on the computer for a couple of hours, collapse in the bed)
51 - I wrote this in my notes but can't recall the situation - one time my therapist was saying to me about inaction... "what do you want your life to be about in the end... 'well, he didn't get in anyone's way'" ... God what good is that.
56 - its really good to be specific about what you do, what you want, what you are good at... yeah, it means that maybe not everyone will like you / be your friend but you'll have much better connections because of it.
70 - talks about being in line for bad food - doing the action (eating poorly) that justifies the negative thinking you have about yourself (fat)... eg. even before you've bought the food it feels like its a pre-ordained conclusion ... as CF says "the die is cast".
73 - only feeling bad things, not the good things.
95 - more emotional talking about the theory of his father than to his actual father.
101 - do other people actually like themselves? really?
108 - hilarious parting quote - CF: "I'm just glad this isn't being recorded"

[Bullpoop04]

Oh, i have so many feelings about this podcast, but as its 2 am when i am finishing it, i REALLY need to go to bed.
If this ever gets back to Christian, i empathize with SO much of what was said, and my life story is like a unicorn dancing on a rainbow will singing me lullabies to sleep every night, compared to his story. There was so much said that i need to process this and need to re-listen.

But what REALLY got me was when paul said that we see christian as a person who has a lot of love inside him. I think him and his poor brothers died thinking their dad didnt love them. Just hearing christian talking about his dad, you can hear the true love and feeling towards his dad. But the dog, oh the dog story. I may have been blinking back tears.

That is how i feel about my cat. If i didnt have a cat, i would not be able to sustain my life as is.