Neal Brennan On: Talking Back to Your Inner Critic, Why Chasing Validation Doesn't Work, and His Harrowing Psychedelic Journeys

Dan Harris (0:03)

Hey, everybody, welcome to the 10% Happier podcast. Buckle up, we've got a great episode.

My guest today is Neal Brennan, co-creator of a legendary Chappelle show. He's got three Netflix specials, Blocks, 3 Mics and Crazy Good. And he's the host of his own podcast, also called Blocks. We talk about how to overcome malaise, how to talk back to your inner critic, and his extremely harrowing psychedelic experiences. This is a really good one. Neal Brennan, welcome to the show.

Neal Brennan (0:34)

Hello, thanks for having me. I'm a first time, long time.

Dan Harris (0:36)

Thank you. I appreciate that. Right back at you. Actually, I once stood next to you at a urinal at a wedding, and was so excited, but I had to hold myself back from saying something to you because it would have been incredibly. I feel like it would be massively douchey of me to say who's wedding, so I'm not going to say it.

But it was somebody we both know. And I really had to hold myself back.

Neal Brennan (1:01)

I've only been to like four weddings.

Dan Harris (1:03)

In your life, that can't be true.

Neal Brennan (1:04)

I mean, as an adult, really? Because I would have recognized you. I'm going to be honest with you. I was mad I haven't been on this podcast sooner. I'm dead serious. I'll show you emails.

I will show you emails.

Of course, this is my particular perception problem. And I think it's a common human problem, which is kind of conspiracy depression. It's a depression that lends itself to conspiracy and rumination. It's like a negativity. I have conspiracy theories, but only about personal relationships.

Dan Harris (1:43)

Okay. So I think I have the same thing, but let me just make sure I understand what you're saying. I kind of think everybody doesn't value me as much as they should.

Neal Brennan (1:52)

I thought you weren't having me on the podcast because you didn't respect. I would told my publicist to ask you if I could do it. All right. So the fact that this is, and when I say it was like eight years ago, it was when you started, you needed guests.

Dan Harris (2:08)

Yeah.

Neal Brennan (2:08)

I'm going to be honest, you can only have Jack Kornfield on here so many times.

Dan Harris (2:11)

Okay.

Neal Brennan (2:12)

So I know where I speak. Sharon Salzberg is back.

Dan Harris (2:17)

Whereas the truth is, I almost, while we had our members out, said something fangirly to you at a urinal.

Neal Brennan (2:28)

So I thought someone hated me for 29 years and just found out they didn't. Three weeks ago, I almost started crying. That's when I did it. I'm not even like, why wasn't I on the podcast? But I don't understand what happens. Cause I'll DM people.

The DMs are open, guys, if you want me on your podcast. So I've DMed people and I'm just like, I want to take you into my pocket. And they've done it.

Dan Harris (2:50)

What's interesting to me is that you have this conspiratorial cast of mine.

Neal Brennan (2:57)

Yep.

Dan Harris (2:58)

And you're Neal fucking Brennan.

Neal Brennan (3:00)

I know, but the problem is, a lot of times the fucking goes away and the N and the B are not capitalized. And it's not an acute E Cummings way. It's a low self same way. And also, that Neal fucking Brennan, it does not, a lot of people don't share whatever you think that is.

Sometimes I'm on your side, I'm Neal Brennan. And other times I'm like, oh, I kind of agree with them. I kind of agree with the negative, what did Nixon call them? The negative nabobs.

Dan Harris (3:38)

Nattering nabobs of negativity. Yes, there you go.

This kind of gets to one of the famous stories about you, which is after the implosion of the Chappelle Show, you carried around a little card that listed your achievements. So you kind of still need to do that.

Neal Brennan (3:56)

That tide has risen. I no longer need an index card of positive attributes, like memento, where I need to remind myself of my credits.

Dan Harris (4:10)

We should just for younger people or the culturally illiterate, we should just fill in some things here. So you were the co-creator and co-writer and often director of some of the most famous segments on what I believe to be the funniest television show in the history of television, Chappelle's Show.

And then the show fell apart for a bunch of complicated reasons that we don't need to get into. And you had a bit of a crisis and were then carrying around a little card in your pocket to remind you that you weren't a piece of shit.