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Aaron Chen | High Quality Comedy From a Low Capacity Kind of Guy | Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out

Mike Birbiglia

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Comedian Aaron Chen may be known internationally for his role on the hit Australian TV series Fisk, but he’s been a working stand-up since the age of 15. In fact, he might be the only Working It Out guest who learned to drive commuting to and from comedy clubs with their dad. Now he’s got a hit Netflix special, Funny Garden. This week, Aaron sits down with Mike to discuss his journey from the suburbs of Sydney to opening for Ali Wong to headlining his own shows across the world. Plus, Aaron and Mike open up about the instances early in their careers when they regrettably lashed out at audiences, and how they became more adept at navigating difficult shows.

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Mike's tour dates: https://www.birbigs.com/tour-dates

Text BIRBIGS to 917-444-7150 for updates

Find Mike:
Website: https://birbigs.com/
Instagram: Instagram: birbigs
Facebook: Facebook: birbigfans
TikTok: TikTok: mikebirbiglia

Find Aaron:
Instagram: Instagram: chennylifestyle
Website: https://www.aaronchencomedy.com

Hosted and Produced by Mike Birbiglia
Producers: Peter Salomone, Joseph Birbiglia, Mabel Lewis, Gary Simons
Sound Mixed by Shubh Saran
Supervising Engineer: Kate Bilinski
Video Consultant: Graham Willoughby
Special Thanks: Marissa Hurwitz, Josh Upfal, David Raphael, Nina Cwik, J. Hope Stein, Oona
Music: Jack Antonoff and Bleachers

20 Comments

@sbon4771 3 months ago

Just a few years ago I was watching Aaron’s YouTube special and thinking, “ I’ll never get to see this guy.” A couple years later he moved to the US and I got to see him in Philly. I went alone. He killed. It was glorious. I had nobody to talk to about it. So here I am 😅

@zoegates2357 3 months ago

He's a national treasure and I'm so happy to see him getting love and recognition internationally.

@ceostudio 2 months ago

Aaron and Sam Campbell taking over the world rn and I love itttt. Weird aussies forever

@oldmatewombat 2 months ago (edited)

I first saw Aaron on his tonight show "Aaron Chen Tonight" about 10 years ago which can't be found anywhere sadly. It was great absurdist TV, it needs to be available as part of the AC ouvre!

@JG-yf9jb 3 weeks ago (edited)

As a fellow low capacity person I love that Aaron is raising awareness about low capacity people 👍 We need to make space for & support talented low capacity people in society. I’m glad Aaron has been able to succeed in expressing his comedic talent regardless & love the ways he is authentically himself even though he goes against the grain. He also has great self awareness.

@palomonostromo 2 months ago

I'm an Italian who lives in Portugal rn, but I used to live in Australia for a couple of years and I loved it so much that I kept following an consume somehow what they would produce in terms of bands, artists, actors and comedians, and luckily I found out about Aaron Chen and Sam Campbell and they are the best new comedians in my opinion and this podcast is so nice because mike is so nice too (also a legend of comedy writing performing directing etc) but it feels so chill and familiar ok I lost my train of thought but thank you so much

@HinsonCo 1 month ago

Aaron Chen is a comic who I could never get tired of watching. His stand up is so so good.

@michellefix9200 2 months ago

Love Aaron. He's hilarious and seems to be a really great guy.

@CatAussieCanadian 2 months ago (edited)

Aaron Chen us in Australia love seeing you succeed in Hollywood!! So good!

@marknason4572 3 months ago

I was introduced to Aaron Chen from Taskmaster Australia, I enjoyed his special on Netflix, and just started watching him on Fisk!

@lukecarey613 2 months ago

It’s good to see you so comfortable in your own skin Aaron.

@Untilthemusicstopss 2 months ago

Aussie legend , his face will be on the $100 note one day

@StickyLaRue 2 months ago

Holy shit Aaron is on Mike’s show! Get it Aaron! So cool and happy for you!

@trondrew 3 months ago

I only recently fell into Guy Mont's Spelling Bee and legitimately gasped when I saw him here!

@jbaker2020 2 months ago

I saw Biribigs in Australia at the Arts centre 10 years ago and loved it. Him sitting on a barstool telling stories and weaving comedy into it was magical tbh

@ArborDaze 1 month ago (edited)

I'm not a comedian, but I imagine that learning to not lash out is something everyone has to go through in some regard, right? I played a lot of Dungeons and Dragons as a kid, and it kind of sounds to me like the thing where every DM has to learn that the game isn't them VS the players. Also, this was so much better than I was expecting it to be. I wish I had been watching this series from the start.

@innervisions1828 2 months ago

I discovered him on Fisk, Australian TV show.

@InigoMontoyasOtherBrotherDaryl 2 months ago

I’m Aussie. Loved Aaron for years.
My first thought before he finished his estimating joke was:
You overestimate my ability to underestimate.
I love that quite a few established successful international comedians have expressed such respect for Aaron’s talent.
From day one of my Aaron Chen experience, I never doubted that he’d make it big.
Ronnie Chieng has known Aaron since Aaron was 16 and described him as being a comic prodigy at that age.