Myq Kaplan is a stand-up comedian who also happens to be vegan (or is it the other way around?)
He's performed on the Tonight Show, Conan, the Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Seth Meyers, the Late Late Show with James Corden, in his own half-hour Comedy Central Presents special, and in his own one-hour special on Netflix and Amazon, Small, Dork, and Handsome.
I was introduced to Myq's cerebral brand of comedy by my daughter, who has memorized his entire published body of work word for word, so I don't need him anymore (sorry, Myq).
In case you're wondering about the centrality of veganism to his life and work, his first album, which was one of iTunes top 10 comedy albums of the year in 2010, is called “Vegan Mind Meld.”
He also contributed an essay to The Reducetarian Solution (edited by another Plant Yourself guest, Brian Kateman), in which he points out that eating a vegan meal and thinking that you're deprived is really focusing on all the things that aren't on the plate. And that no matter what you eat, there are lots of things not on your plate. So chill.
Myq and I talked about the theory of comedy (he uses big words like “benign violation” and “theory”), and how being funny can help people shift their perspectives on serious issues.
Myq uses language in very thoughtful ways; for example, he pointed out the difference between asking someone “Do you eat chicken?” and “Do you eat chickens?”
I asked about the cliche that comedians had troubled childhoods, and we talked about that fact that maybe plumbers also have troubled childhoods but their job is to fix leaks rather than talk about their childhoods, so we don't notice quite as much. And I didn't even make a pun about comedians' (wise)cracks.
We also explored how the comedic method – which often starts with looking for what's strange, weird, annoying, or crazy in a situation – contributed to his veganism and allows him to talk about it in non-threatening ways.
And we spent a fair bit of time chewing on his spiritual interests and practices, and how spending time on self-development can help us escape from the “Infinite Mirror of Assholes” that we can live within.
Enjoy, add your voice to the conversation via the comment box below, and please share – that's how we spread our message and spread our roots.
Links
The Humor Code, by Peter McGraw and Joel Warner
The Braindead Megaphone, by George Saunders
Becoming Nobody: Ram Dass on dying
How to Fight, and How to Love, by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Lathe of Heaven, by Ursula K. Le Guin
4-page Introduction from the new Josh/Howie book – needs a title (leave suggestions in comments or Plant Yourself Facebook page or just email me at **@pl***********.com)
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Music
The Plant Yourself Podcast theme music, “Dance of Peace (Sabali Don),” is generously provided by Will Ridenour, a kora player from North Carolina who has trained with top Senegalese musicians.
It can be found on his first CD, titled Will Ridenour.
You can learn about Will, listen to more tracks, and buy music on his website, WillRidenour.com.
Gratitudes
Thanks to Plant Yourself podcast patrons – Kim Harrison – Lynn McLellan – Anthony Dissen – Brittany Porter – Dominic Marro – Barbara Whitney – Tammy Black – Amy Good – Amanda Hatherly – Mary Jane Wheeler – Ellen Kennelly – Melissa Cobb – Rachel Behrens – Christine Nielsen – Tina Scharf – Tina Ahern – Jen Vilkinofsky – David Byczek – Michele X – Elspeth Feldman – Viktoriya Dolomanova – Leah Stolar – Allan Kristensen – Colleen Peck – Michele Landry – Jozina – Julianne Rowland – Stu Dolnick – Sara Durkacs – Kelly Cameron – Wayne Pedersen – Leanne Peterson – Janet Selby – Claire Adams – Tom Fronczak – Jeannette Benham – Gila Lacerte – David Donohue – Blair Seibert – Doron Avizov – Gio and Carolyn Argentati – Jodi Friesner – RuthAnn Funderburk – Mischa Rosen – Michael Worobiec – Alicia Lemus – Val Linnemann – Nick Harper – Stephanie Halmes – Bandana Chawla – Martha Bergner – Nikole Ramsay – Susan Ahmad – Molly Levine – The Inscrutable Harry R – Susan Laverty the Panda Vegan – Craig Covic – Adam Scharf – Karen Bury – Heather Morgan – Ashley Corcoran – Kelly Michiya – DeAnne Norton – Bonnie Lynch of Plant Happy Oregon – Sabine Kurtzhals – Nigel Davies – Marian Blum – Teresa Kopel – Shell Routledge – Julian Watkins – Brid O'Connell – Brian Sheridan – Shannon Herschman – Cate Rolls – Linda Ayotte – Julie Lang – Holm Hedegaard – Isa Tousignant – Connie Haneline – Erin Greer – Alicia Davis – AvIvA Lael – Heather O'Connor – Carollynne Jensen – Sheri Orlekoski of Plant Powered for Health – Karen Smith – Scott Mirani – Karen and Joe Crabtree – Tanya Lewis – Kirby Burton – Theresa Carrell – Kevin Macaulay – Elizabeth Rothschild – Kelly Baker Miracle – Ann Jesse – Sheryl Dwyer – Jenny Hazelton – Valerie Pelletier – Peter W Evans – Colleen Harrison – Justine Divett – Joshua Sommermeyer – Dennis Bird – Darby Kelly – Lori Fanney – Linnea Lundquist – Valarie Hummel – Deb Coscia – Emily Iaconelli – Levi Wallach – Rosamonde McAtee – Dan Pokorney – Stephen Leinin – Patty DeMartino – Mike and Donna Kartz – Deanne Bishop – Bilberry Elf – Günter Schmid – Marjorie Lewis – Kelly Moulden – Tricia Adams – Ian Cramer – Nancy Sheldon – Lindsey Bashore – Gunn Marit Hagen – Tracey Gulledge – Lara Hedin – Meg from Mamasezz – Rachelle Kennedy – Joan Bornstein – Diana Goldman – Stacey Stokes – Ben Savage – Michael K – Hollie Butler – David Hughes -Coni Rodgers – Claire England – Sally Robertson – Parham Ganchi – Amy Dailey – Brian Tourville – Mark Jeffrey Johnson – Josie Dempsey – for your generous support of the podcast.
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