When comedian and Jewish Journal columnist Mark Schiff wanted to start his new podcast, he had one thing in mind: don’t make it contentious. Keep it funny, lighthearted and, at its core, full of great stories.
It’s a shift from much of the content we hear today, which includes lots of “gotcha” moments, arguing and anger. Schiff’s podcast, “You Don’t Know Schiff,” is different.
“No one is getting hurt,” said Schiff. “There is no badmouthing people, no in-your-face politics. We have a nice friendly chat about our guest’s life. It’s the opposite of everything out there now where they yell and scream. This really is a very warm place.”
Co-hosted by fellow comedian Lowell Benjamin, “You Don’t Know Schiff” features Schiff and Benjamin speaking with comics, artists and other interesting personalities they’ve met over the years including Kevin Nealon from “Weeds” and “Saturday Night Live,” Paul Reiser, the star of “Mad About You” and standup comedians Wendy Liebman and George Wallace. Future episodes include Jerry Seinfeld – whom Schiff opens for on the road – Susie Essman from “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” director Judd Apatow.
On the show, people get deep when talking about their life stories. One guest, voiceover actor extraordinaire Maurice LaMarche, discussed his father’s murder.
“Maurice met with the Dalai Lama about letting go of the anger and hate he had towards the guy who killed his father,” said Schiff. “It’s a very powerful story and Maurice tells it very well.”
Another guest, artist Joey Feldman, described what it was like living in a TV box on the street when he was homeless. “Now, he’s one of the most successful artists around,” said Schiff.
Another guest, artist Joey Feldman, described what it was like living in a TV box on the street when he was homeless.
“Now, he’s one of the most successful artists around,” said Schiff.
Schiff and Benjamin don’t refrain from talking about comedians’ number one concern these days: getting canceled. Or, in recent days, getting physically attacked as well.
“We just did an episode with George Wallace about Will Smith smacking Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle being attacked on stage,” said Schiff. “There is some talk about cancel culture. We don’t shy away from it.”
While it may appear, on the outside, that the successful guests on the podcast haven’t faced many challenges, listeners get to know the truth behind what they see on TV or the stage.
“When you see Paul Reiser starring in his own show you think he’s had all these breaks,” said Benjamin. “Then, you hear his story and it’s like he’s this normal guy. We also try to get some advice to give our listeners. We want people to learn that they can do anything they want.”
Schiff, a veteran comedian who had many appearances on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “Late Night with David Letterman,” resisted starting a podcast for a long time. But when he met Benjamin’s wife, Cathy Heller of the popular “Don’t Keep Your Day Job” podcast, she convinced him to do it.
“People told me that I’m pretty good at interviewing people, but I never really had much interest in doing it until I met Cathy and Lowell,” Schiff said. “Lowell and I started talking and he’s an incredibly funny guy. I said, ‘Why don’t we do one together?’”
Lowell said he jokes that “I have the second most successful podcast in my house.”
When people listen to “You Don’t Know Schiff” – which is free on Apple Podcasts or wherever podcasts are available – Schiff and Benjamin hope that they walk away with a good feeling.
“We have lighthearted but substantive discussions,” said Benjamin. “We want it to be a real conversation where you get to know about someone as a person. And, we want to share positive and inspirational stories.”
