Best Of: Jason Segel / Lisa Kudrow

This episode features insightful interviews with two beloved figures in comedy: Jason Segel and Lisa Kudrow. Segel delves into his Emmy-nominated performance in the Apple TV+ series "Shrinking," exploring the show's unconventional therapeutic methods and how they've impacted his own life. Kudrow shares her journey from early comedic influences to her iconic role as Phoebe Buffay in "Friends" and her critically acclaimed work in "The Comeback."

Jason Segel on "Shrinking" and Unconventional Therapy

Jason Segel, nominated for an Emmy for his leading role in "Shrinking," plays Jimmy, a therapist experiencing a nervous breakdown who begins to intervene directly in his patients' lives. The first three seasons of the show are streaming on Apple TV+. Segel explains that the show's unique approach to therapy is based on a real-life method developed by a group of therapists, including Phil Stutz, who "broke convention" (6:34). These therapists observed that patients often spent "week after week rehashing where things came from in their past" (6:41) without addressing immediate problems. Instead, they focused on providing practical advice for "what to do on Tuesday" (6:53), believing that addressing current challenges could lead to breakthroughs, with deeper psychological work to follow.

Segel reveals that this therapeutic approach profoundly impacted his own life. He admits to having spent "a lot of time talking about the same stuff from my childhood" (8:28) in previous therapy sessions. However, working with a therapist who adopted this direct, action-oriented method "totally changed my life" (8:18). He found immense value in being told, "next time this happens, this is what I want you to do" (8:37). This direct guidance, sometimes as simple as saying a specific sentence, helped him operate "more smoothly" (8:47) and eventually understand the underlying reasons for his struggles. The final lines of "Shrinking" season three, where Jimmy confronts his inability to move forward due to feeling "all covered in scars" (9:08), were directly inspired by a real therapy session Segel had.