The Three Questions with Andy Richter - Bridger Winegar

Episode Date: August 4, 2026

Comedian and writer Bridger Winegar (host of the I Said No Gifts! podcast) joins Andy Richter to discuss growing up as a gay Mormon in Utah, having a nervous breakdown on his mission to Singapore, his elementary school Dancing with the Stars connection, and the weirdest gift he received from a guest of his show. Do you want to talk to Andy and his comedian friends live on SiriusXM’s Conan O’Brien Radio? Tell us your favorite dinner party story (about anything!) or ask a question - leave a voicemail at 855-266-2604 or fill out our Google Form at BIT.LY/CALLANDYRICHTER. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hi, everybody. Welcome back to the three questions. I'm your host, Andy Richter, and today I am talking to the very funny Bridger Winneger. He's a comedian and writer. He wrote for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Jimmy Kim Alive, Black Monday, the after party, and more. His very funny podcast, I said no gifts, is available wherever you find your podcast. Here's my conversation with Bridger Winner. Bridger Winner, hello. Andy, how are you? I'm good. I'm good. Are there many Bridgers? I don't know that. I've ever met a bridger. A lot of baby bridgers now. Oh, really? I kind of feel like I was in the first batch. Is it from you?

At least first batch of Bridgers. Right, right, right. I'm from Utah. The name kind of comes from Utah. There's a mountain man named Jim Bridger. Oh, okay. It was kind of like the first white person to discover the Great Salt Lake. I see.

And he thought it was the Pacific Ocean. So it's like actually a bad namesake because he seems like a moron. It means mistaken. Yeah, exactly. You fool. Cool. Well, was he a Mormon? Yes. Oh, he was. I think he was Mormon-ish, but I think he was kind of like a Jack Mormon type where like they swear and are a little bit edgy or whatever.

But I mean, was he sent by Brigham Young or somebody to go? I think he came along with them. Oh, he did. Okay. And again, now I'm just making things up. Right, right, right. I know what I mainly wanted to get LDS history out of this. Of course. I'm an open book. I'm willing to just take shots in the dark. And we just, we were speaking just before the podcast that I have, I just was in Salt Lake City because I was on tour with dancing with the stars. And that was, that was my final show.

Oh. We did three shows in Salt Lake. And that was originally the end of the tour. They had, I had booked myself and, you know, they'd asked me like, will you do it through to the end? And I said, yes. Sure. And then later they tacked on like a mad dash across the country. Oh, no.

other people grab money out of people's pockets so they're going like Omaha they're just like dotting all the way back and ending up back in Akron where it all started with just a single dancing couple left well yeah but I mean they're it's all places where they've already been but the show is sold so well it must be a huge hit it's really really was how was salt lake it was fun it was And although it was as, I mean, and it made sense to wrap it up there because it is, and as you will speak to, such a hotbed of ballroom dancing. Oh my God, the capital of at least the Intermountain West of ballroom dance. No, I mean, well, I mean, half the cast. I mean, Whitney Levitt, there's a reason like she was like a professional from the very beginning because most, especially women in Utah just grow up through a military-esque dancing program.

And I mean, I'm not sure the percent. but it's probably 40% of the pros on dancing with the stars. Oh, I went to... Are Mormons or have a Utah background? I went to elementary school with Derek Huff. Oh, you did? Yeah, at least, I think until fourth grade, I'm sure he has no idea who I am.

But I remember Derek Huff and suddenly he's this guy on that show. Suddenly he's Derek Huff. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I took ballroom dancing too. Why am I not on the show? Why am I not hosting that? Now, that's what somebody told me. They said that it's kind of like if, like, it's sort of like sports or ballroom

dancing or both. And if you don't, you're kind of, and is it in your stake or, you know, in your parish, whatever. Yeah. And if you want the terminology, Andy is ward first. And your ward. That's the neighborhood. Yeah, yeah. Then steak is several wards.

I see. Okay. And then I'm out of my depth. But, but yeah, so that you were kind of out. If you weren't in ballroom dancing, you were sort of. Ballroom was, I mean, it was like the cool thing in my neighborhood. We were like swing. I mean, I can't imagine anything less cool.

God bless, but it just doesn't seem. But it was like cool kids were ballroom dancing. Now, does that just come from sexual repression? I think it must, right? Because it's a good excuse to grab on to each other. Right, you're touching another person. I don't know any other reason. Yeah.

I mean, I guess it's kind of old fashion no matter what. Yeah. And culturally there, it's always about at least 20 years behind. Yeah, yeah. And so I think there's a real squeaky cleanness to ballroom dancing until you get into certain moves. Yes. Watch out.

Well, that was like I'm talking to some of the pros who weren't from there. They said like it is kind of, it's so striking because. And it doesn't take a lot to figure out. Oh, yeah, I get it. You know, kids are so, there's, it's such a conservative, repressed kind of, you know, or suppressed or whatever you want to, you know, especially sexually that like, yeah, all right, I get to touch. Absolutely.

That's one of the things that I felt from the beginning was like, and I would say this to people, like, you are touching somebody like for hours at a time. You're grabbing somebody basically. Yeah, and you're spinning each other around and, you know, and catching each other and falling and stuff. And I was like, I have had many, many artistic collaborations throughout the years, but never one where we were in each other's arms the entire time. Like Conan and I never held on to each other very much when we were writing comedy. Yeah, yeah. So there is something, there's something very physically sustaining about it. It's like a nourishing kind of thing.

Yeah, and you're like within Mormon culture, you're not really even allowed to date until you're 16. Yeah. Not even with the same person. So there's a lot like the idea of having a partner and dancing around with them all. I mean, it didn't work for me, at least as far as touching a woman. That meant nothing. But the dancing worked. Yeah, yeah.

Because you're very graceful. I'm extremely graceful. Everybody knows I'm graceful. I felt a career on being graceful. But my, like some of the people are telling me, like they would see these like young, like Utah, young dance competitions. And they're like, oh, my, they are like up in each other's crotches and flinging and like grabbing. And it's like, really like, wow, okay. That's.

So maybe, you know, maybe these days there's. no shame to it. Maybe not. I think it's getting a little looser. I think probably as numbers drop within the thing, they're like, well, let's just loosen it up a bit so we don't lose everybody. Yeah. But yeah, they're ballroom dancing and like musical theater culture. Oh, wow. Huge in Utah. And did you do both of those things? I can't sing. Oh. So, but I mean the musical theater theater of it allowed me to kind of camouflage myself gay wise for a very long time. Oh, you mean you could be a theater kid and it was right. I mean, there's like there's like, There's a weird gayness to a lot of Mormon culture.

Yeah. I think just because, yeah, it's like musical theater is such a gay thing, but it's also weirdly family friendly. Yeah. So, yeah, I grew up with a lot of kids who probably people would be like, that person's gay and they weren't. Yeah. So I was able to just lay low for a while. Oh, nice. Which is probably horrible.

Yeah, yeah. Well, I was struck when I, because, you know, having been around dancers, but mostly kind of brought. Broadway dancers. Right. And then even coming out here, too, I mean, how many male dancers are gay? And then it was surprising to me, ballroom, it's not. Not as much. No, not as much.

It's like there's, it's all mostly straight males. It's a straight gentleman's game. Yeah, yeah. It's a straight gentleness. Like, you know, and I just, because there's also then the other, the other big culture is Russian. Oh, right. Russian, Ukrainian, you know, Eastern European is a, it's a very, you know, I mean, it's, it's like you're going to, you do gymnastics or you do basketball or you, you know, you can also do ballroom dancing. It's very much an athletic pursuit.

Right, right. And what brought about your end of your dancing days? That's like, I think I started hanging out with people who skateboarded and I was just like, this isn't as cool. There was some, like, I guess that's not cool. Right, right. Did you still wear your Capizio shoes? Oh, yeah. I was tapping around, twirling about.

No, I think I was basically in ballroom dance from probably sixth till eighth grade and the ninth grade rolled around. And there was suddenly some sort of rebellion element of like that's not for me anymore. But yeah, it just kind of came to a screeching halt. And other kids remained in it. But maybe I should have stuck in. I would be, you know, I would be Derek. by now. Well, yeah.

I mean, it seems like a pretty good gig. A very good gig, my God. He's got a lot of nice broaches. How many broaches do I have? I don't know. How many broaches do you? You'll never wear them. All right, okay.

I just never see you wear them. I was looking for an excuse to brag about my brooch. My brooch collection. Well, I mean, growing up gay as a Mormon has got to be, you know, present its own sort of ticklish kind of thing. situations. I mean, yeah, it's a, um, actually, I think it's still now a very difficult thing to do. I mean, and when I was growing up, I mean, it just unheard of. Yeah. Like, I mean, I came out much later than a lot of people I know, largely due to just like how tough it was. Yeah. How scary to the idea of like

your family leaving you was. Mm-hmm. And was that a real concern? Oh, for me. I mean, for all Mormons, I knew Mormons who had come out and their family had, you know, disowned them, all this sort of thing. And so even I had been living in L.A. for years and had not been associated with the Mormon Church for years. And it was only to when I got to the point of being like, oh, I'm so alone. Like I've got to just like come out and started secretly dating. And I had finally like kind of secured myself financially here. I had got my first writing job. I was like, okay, I'm okay.

Like I don't need as much of a safety net anymore. and that's when I felt like I could do it. And then my family really surprised me. They were so lovely about it. Oh, that's great. But it was up until the very moment, it was like this could go in any direction. And it's a thing.

I think that a lot of people, especially like in L.A. or New York, you kind of start to forget that the middle of the country is still a very difficult place to be a closeted person. Yeah. It's like still a very big deal.

Yeah. I mean, I even forget it sometimes now. I'm like, well, everything's fine for me now. Yeah. But that mindset is so real until it's not. Yeah, I'm always struck. I mean, I remember on a road trip, I think it was Fort Smith, Arkansas, stopped for to eat. And our waiter was very gay.

Uh-huh. And I was just like, oh, my, what is it like to be very gay in Fort Smith, Arkansas? I'm sure it's not easy. It can't be easy. Yeah. Yeah. And you're right. You do think, because my, my.

son who's 25 is gay and has pretty much been out since he was young right right and and it was not it was it wasn't a difficult thing here i'm sure i mean i'm as difficult as it could be i'm you know i mean teenage it's just a nightmare no matter what yes exactly exactly but it is much much easier to be here and you know and he he had the same boyfriend they they got together when they were 16 That's so, I mean, that's just like another universe to me. They just recently broke up, but yeah, yeah. That's so fascinating. I know.

And it's, and I would, like, I would come to the show and gay employees of the show, the gay male employees of the show, like I'd show his prom pictures. Right. And I could tell how much they loved seeing them, but also were wounded by them. Of course. I mean, I can't even imagine what my life would have been like. Yeah. Just a full, like, it's inconceivable.

Yeah. It's, yeah, that's something you just never get back, but whatever. Yeah. It's like, but I'm glad people there are, it's slow, well, hopefully continuing to grow. Yeah. The way things are going, God only knows. I think so. I mean, if they can handle Book of Mormon, you know, they can handle.

Mormons do have a fairly good sense of humor about themselves to a point. It seems to be the case. Yeah. Yeah. Because I think they're ultimately, well, ultimately friendly people who also don't like to make waves. Yes. So it's just like, okay, beat me up. Yeah.

Now, I'm assuming that you are no longer practicing or a believer. And do you think that that was tied up with your identity? Yeah, I mean, yes, I think like, because until I was probably 20, I was a practicing member and believed on some level. Yeah. And I was surrounded by people who did the same. So even when you were out here, were you going to church? No, I didn't move to L.A. until I was 23-ish. Yeah, around that age. So were you still in Utah at this point? Yeah, I was in Utah. And I was like slowly, I had gone on a Mormon mission and that had ended very poorly. I want to talk about that. Yeah, I'm happy to talk about it. But that was like kind of the slow opening of the door of exiting Mormonism. I see. But then it was a very slow exit. And then I finally moved to L.A. and it was like, okay, this is all, I'm removed.

from it. But then it was several more years before I just felt like I could acknowledge that gay people were a real thing, but I was like, but not me. Right. Oh, wow. But that couldn't possibly be me. Wow. So the stranglehold that has on you is freeze. Yeah, yeah. Or at least speaking personally, and I imagine for a lot of, at least people within the LDS church who are gay, that's probably still true. Yeah. Can't you tell my loves it grows? You came on. here. I'm not going to be a part of a church. I'm not going to continue. But did you feel like your mortal soul was in danger, you know? No, not at all. Oh, really? I mean, that's really the

craziest part about it where it's just like there was no fear of like going to wherever you go after you die or be punished. Yeah. It was more just like I really probably 80% believed I was not gay. Yeah. Because I had just been taught that that's not a real thing. And even after starting, I started recognizing, oh, it is, but it's like, but not for me. Yeah. So, and then, of course, there was the fear of like, I, what if this doesn't work out in L.A., then I have to go back there. And if there's no support system there, then what do I do?

So it was like, I mean, it took forever to get my first writing job. But until that happened, I was like, I need to be able to stand on my own two feet, like, and know that I have a future here before I can make any moves in this direction. Right, right. Yeah, because, I mean, I imagine. it is a support structure that, you know, that you, and I mean, was there always in your mind some way that, like, I'm not going to be Mormon forever? Or did you think like, no, this is who I am and I'll be this, you know? Yeah, I mean, weirdly like, even I remember in elementary school having questions, like things where I'm like this, okay, the logic of whatever topic this is simply doesn't add up. Yeah. I'm seeing plot holes. You can pick any religion and throw that against.

Yeah, so like there was always like some thing in my mind that was like something's not quite adding up. Yeah. And I did have this feeling of like, what am I? And, you know, then as those things start to collide as like I got towards my 20s, it's like, okay, so they're telling me I don't, like what I feel and know doesn't exist. Yeah. But I am experiencing it. So certainly these things are not or no longer compatible. Yeah, yeah.

And now they're kind of doing a thing where they're like, oh, yeah, you can be gay in the Mormon church. You just simply can't act on it. You can be gay, but you can't be gay. Yeah, exactly. Go ahead, be gay, but don't be gay. Yeah, it's a really kind of insidious thing of like, no, you're welcome here. You're not, but you are. So I'm glad I didn't get caught up in anything like that because that feels like a lifelong

track. Oh, that's like so cruel, so unbelievably cruel. Yeah, I can't imagine. And such a cruel thing to do to yourself, to. Oh, absolutely. And also when you end up married to a woman, a cruel thing to do to your family. Oh, boy. I mean, it's like the whole thing ends up being just such a bad situation for everybody. And yeah, so like, when I basically had a nervous breakdown on my Mormon mission, that was basically the final nail in the coffin as far as all of that went. And then it was just like.

Yeah, tell me about that. Where was it too? So Mormon missions, usually you're kind of sent to one country or one state or whatever. whatever. I was, and then they named the mission that. So I was sent to the Singapore mission, but that encompassed Singapore, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. And I was in East Malaysia at the time. And is this something that everybody has to do? Or do you say, like, I want to go on a mission and then they pick a place? No. I mean, it's like, at least when I was growing up, it was just a given. If you were a man in the Mormon church, that's what you did unless something was wrong with you. I see. Or if you were, like, I'm really,

a health issue or something. Oh, or football player. Like, there are a few, like, or if you're like, Donnie Osmond.

Yes. There are exceptions. But otherwise, you're just like, you're in line from the moment you're born to go on a mission. And at the time, it was when you turned 19. It's now when you're 18.

So, like, I, you know, I believed in all of it, but I wasn't like so gung ho, but I just kind of culturally and everything, I just kind of felt like this is what you do.

Yeah. You go to half a semester of college or whatever, and then suddenly you're off somewhere in another country for two years, which is, again, another thing that I find so problematic when your brain is supposed to be like opening up and suddenly you're allowed to read one book and not consume any media. It's like, what's happening here? And you run around East Malaysia and a white shirt and tie. Well, I'll correct that.

This is the one place in the world where Mormons don't wear a white shirt. Oh, really? Because it's illegal to convert people to more or to another religion in Malaysia. because it's a Muslim country. It's on the slide. Yes. Right before I got there, two missionaries had been in jail. Wow.

So you're in a colored shirt, like a pastel shirt. And not only, but it's like not only, it's just so like, I know, let's send this guy that's having questions to the most dangerous place to go where you can actually, no, no, no, not Phoenix. Oh, Phoenix, I would have been there for two days. And you're like, okay, I'm going on. Goodbye. No, I mean, I'm kind of grateful for it because it was the sort of thing where you really like when you're on a bike for eight hours a day. And you have one person in your life that your companion who you despise. And it's all this stuff adding up.

You're like, maybe I need to be certain about what I'm doing. Yeah, yeah. And I eventually became certain, but then continued to put it away. And that just eventually built up to a breaking point for me. Yeah, yeah. And I was supposed to be there for. two years, I think I was there for five months. Then it was just over.

Just like a you couldn't get out of bed kind of thing? No, it was like a full like, it was a, I swallowed like a bottle of Advil. Oh, wow. Yeah. So it was a, it was a situation that was like, it was tough. It was not. Oh, I'm so sorry. No, it's fine.

It's just like, again, I, it's, I'm sad for that person. Yeah. But I'm also like, I guess I just didn't have any other choice at the time. Yeah. And I felt like that was my way out one way or the other. Well, the odds are so stacked against you. You know, I mean, there's such a mountain of programming and culture that you have to, you know, it's almost like it's not going to, you're not just going to go, you know what? I'd change my mind.

Totally. It's going to be something big. Right. You know, I like, you, because that is reality. It's like, I'll watch documentaries about cults are like really authoritative. authoritarian countries and you see the citizens or the members of the cults and you're like, well, why aren't you figuring it out? Like, this is all so obvious.

The leader's insane. They're making you do crazy things. It's like, well, but that's what you were raised in. And so it's like, of course you think that's what reality is. Yeah. So when that starts to break, it has a huge, at least for me, had a massive effect on me. Yeah. And it just felt like, and there's also like shame tied up with it because it's like if I go

home early, like I'm going to feel like an outcast. I'll be a disappointment to my parents. And so I don't know. It felt like such an impossible situation. But again, I'm like, if I had stuck around the whole time, I would probably have a wife and four kids right now, and I would not like her. And I would just be like, what would I be doing with my life right now?

It would be even darker in some ways. Absolutely. How does this end up in comedy? What made you think? you were funny. That's a great question. I'm still asking that more than ever, honestly. I don't, that's another, I think truly like the lack of any other skills. Oh, really? Really like push me towards this, whereas like, thank God you weren't a good dancer. I know. Yeah, yeah. I mean, actually, I'm going to, I'm going to push back. I am a good dancer.

Get me to a wedding. Whoa, whoa. Get me to a wedding. I will be the star. Okay, fine. But I just didn't really have any other. I knew pretty early. on that I could make people laugh, like as early as probably third grade. And we, in my house, we didn't get to watch a lot of TV, but my parents, we were allowed to watch Letterman. Oh, really? Yeah, it was a weird, like, kind of, why that? They're just because they, it's just their caprice or based on whatever. For whatever reason, I think my mom's parents, well, my grandpa worked at a TV station in Salt Lake. Oh, wow. They were. a CBS affiliate, I believe. And so it was kind of like, well, we watched CBS.

And eventually, Letterman was on CBS. And so I think it was kind of just like, this is what we watch. Right. And, I mean, thank God. If it had been an NBC affiliate, who knows, I would have a wife and kids probably. Thanks, Jay. Yes. I owe it all to Jay.

But no, we would watch Letterman. And that show obviously would feature writers. They would come on as little bits or whatever. And so it started to be like this education of how any of this worked or that there were jobs that, you know, most people outside of TV, whenever you talk to somebody, they're largely like they just think it's improv a lot of the time. Sure. Or like the knowledge of how writing works is very low because it's opaque, you know.

It's like maybe less so now. Or they think they either think, Nobody writes anything or somebody writes everything. Yes. You know, because like people, there were, yeah, there were people that would say like, wait, you guys have writers? Like, and I'm like, yeah, we don't do every fucking desk bit. Right. But then there's other people who like think that when he and I go like, how are you today?

Somebody is going cliquity clack. How are you today, you know? So, yeah, it is funny. And I, but I mean, I can't blame them. No. Like you said, it's an opaque kind of. Well, and system. Especially on a talk show, if the talk show is done correctly, it shouldn't feel like writing.

Exactly. So, but like seeing different writers pop up or whatever, it started to feel like, well, that's maybe something people do. But then again, it's like in Utah, you never go out of state for college. There's just none of this. Nobody in my family had been to college, like within my immediate family. And so all of that just felt so far-fetched or impossible for me to do. and then in college I applied for an internship at Letterman at least twice and finally got an interview there and got the job and that was the first time of like oh I guess you might be able to sneak through the door if you don't know anybody yeah and it was a miserable experience but it was in what way just because it's the atmosphere was not happy there was it towards the end yes this was an 2009. Oh, yeah, yeah. And, uh, no one was happy. Yeah. I mean, I was, it was obviously still like a dream job. I was like, oh my God, but it came along with so much abuse. Yes. And, uh, it was just, I mean, like, it did. It did. It got show, unfortunately got very weird at the end. It got. Yeah. There was, I mean, watching it, you could tell. But especially like going there. The last time I was there, I went with Conan when Conan was on as a guest. And it felt like, like, like,

It felt like when you were a kid and you were at a house of parents who have yet to divorce. But they're in the process of getting divorce. It is happening. Something is very wrong with this household. And it's like, I don't know exactly what, but something's not right. We're not eating dinner together anymore. Right. It's very weird.

Yeah, it was very much that vibe. And I'm sure Dave probably at this point would acknowledge that. Oh, absolutely. He probably has. He acknowledges his own. like difficulty fitting in with humanity. Yes, of course. Totally. I mean, it's his discomfort that was like one of the motivators of his comic identity.

Right, totally. Yeah. And so, but then when you're like at the very bottom of the ladder in that sort of atmosphere, it's like. Yeah, nobody takes a moment to think about your feelings. No, no, no, no. I mean, if they're thinking about their feelings, it's in a way to make them worse. Yeah, yeah. Get that kid.

Yeah, exactly. But I mean, I'm very grateful for it because it was my first little thing where I thought maybe this will, I can turn this into something. Yeah. But then I went back home and worked for overstock.com for a really long time. Oh, really? And then it started to slide away again. And then I told enough people that I was moving to L.A. That it became embarrassing that I hadn't.

Wow. And then. And so you came out here with just a dream in your heart. Yeah. And Twitter is where you and I became aware of me. Oh, right. Exactly. Or you became aware of me.

I was already aware of you. I wear a few. Yes. But that Twitter, that was the, that was the best part. There was a time when it was like a pleasant, funny thing to do. I called it joke gym. Yeah. It's where you go to work out jokes with people.

Totally. Yeah. And not even jokes that like you're going to do anything with. No. You're just having fun with funny people. Right. Yeah. I loved it back now.

Oh, it was such a great thing. And it was like such a place for somebody who was new to comedy and like was for me of like finding my voice and figuring out what I thought was actually funny. Yeah. It was just like such a, I mean, it became higher and higher stakes as like as your follower account grew and you didn't have a job. Yeah. But it was, that was really my one little thing of like, well, I, two people who are relatively famous have followed me. And it seems like I know how to write jokes.

Maybe if I keep doing this as my job, but eventually it will become a job. Yeah, yeah. And then four years passed in L.A. And then I was like, well, that didn't work. And truly, like, one month, like, I was like, okay, I guess it's over. I'm looking up social media jobs in Utah. And a month later, Jimmy Kimmel DM'd me and was like, it led to me getting hired on a show. And so it was really like a last minute thing that happened before, like, otherwise, who knows what would be happening.

But it was, you know, Twitter was such an interesting thing because you would see people getting jobs and you would have Andy Richter follow you. And then like, but it was, it was like, oh, that's so flattering or whatever. But then you're like, oh, yeah, that's just how this works. You get to make people who are in the business laugh at then you get to keep doing your stupid job. Yeah. So I had really given up hope on it. And it's a shame because I think it now, I guess it's TikTok people find new comedy people. But Twitter felt like such a pure way to do it where it's just like this is the person's thoughts.

And they have no other thing to shine it up or whatever. It's just like, oh, they're a good joke writer. Yeah, and it was, it was word. It's about words. Totally. And TikTok and all the others are much more about visuals. And I just think that's like, that's too, it's too embarrassing. It's too revealing.

Oh my God. It's mortifying to me. It's like, no, let me hide behind words, please, you know. Well, it's also you're now, I mean, as everybody is being turned into like the, every element of a production where it's like you're now doing the lighting you're doing the camera

and this is all now for free where it's like 10 years ago somebody would be offering you some level of money or help to get your comedy thing hanged out of

and also too it's like the people that 10 years ago would spend the money to make a comedy thing are now like why should I spend money these people are fucking doing it all themselves

like I'd give them 12 bucks and then they just put their shit on. They're all desperate. Yeah, yeah. You know. Yeah. I know it's, it's, I don't, I don't know what, I just, I just hang on.

I just, I mean, you know, I have, I have had a wonderful, lovely career, but I still feel like I'm just hanging on. Sure. And figuring out, I don't know what's going to. People ask like, what should I do? I don't know. I know what I have no idea what anything is going to be like. I just. Yeah, I, in a lot of ways, feel like I got tricks because I'm still like, early.

early mid career. And I'm like, what is there any industry past two years from now? Yeah. And it's, I mean, I think that there is. There's, it's billions and billions of dollars. Where is that going to go? Yeah. But it is weird. No, people are always going to want to watch stuff. Yes. And I, and also things get so cyclical that I think there will be a point at which they'll, they will say, you know, the same way that, oh, they're streaming, screaming, screaming, you know, and then all the people that dumped a bunch of money into streaming are like, hmm, how do we get the money back out? And then they start to go, what about commercials? Oh, right. And now we're back. So we're going to get back to commercials. And I think in the same way, it'll get back to like, you know what? What if we had the writers actually in a room together and we paid them? And we did more than four episodes. Yes. I just think that

there will become like it will just, it'll just become a fashionable trend to do. I mean, unless unless the, you know, the, you know, the vertical integration of capitalism crushes everything. Right. Just a huge possibility. Huge possibility. So you've made it halfway through this episode. Congratulations. If you're already clamoring for more Bridger Winiger, then check out, I Said No Gifts, where he invites his favorite people in comedy over for a chat with one very simple rule.

No gifts. Sadly, every guest ignores this request, leading to countless confrontations and conversations regarding the gifts they force on him. Guests have included Bowen-Yang, Maria Bamford, Coloskola, Darcy Cardin, and me. Don't miss new episodes every Thursday. Listen to, I said no gifts, wherever you get your podcasts. But I mean, I'm still, I still cross my fingers and hope that, like, there will be some kind of breaking up of monopoly. Because there has been before. Yeah.

You know, and like I do feel like there, we might reach a point where all the people that are cool with monopolies die. And then there are younger people who are like monopolies aren't so great. And then they stop it, you know. Yeah. I feel like we all in so many ways are at a breaking point. Yeah. This can only be pushed so much further before something huge happens. Right.

So hopefully. Before I get my real estate license. I've been looking into therapy schools. Have you really? No. Oh, oh. Because honestly, I've been through so much therapy that there have been times where I'm like, I think I could probably, you know. I think that's a huge thing in L.A. I think like writers and actors frequently, that's like the plan B.

Yeah. And I'm always like, don't let those people be therapists, please. No, therapists are the most fucked up people. It's like, it's kind of like, you know, cops are a little dirty because they're working so close to this line. And the line is like sane and crazy. And if you're going to work near the crazy line, you're going to get a little crazy on it. Right. And it helps you understand the other side, you know.

Well, now you decided because of the, you know, instability of this career path you've chosen to get into podcasting. I am so lucky. So unbelievably lucky that I have a podcast and that I like, because I started the podcast in 20. 2020 before we quite knew what was going to happen. Yes. Was it pre-COVID? It was, yeah, the first 16, which you were one of, were pre-recorded pre-COVID. Wow.

And then we launched on March 12th, 2020. Wow. It's kind of an ideal time to be like, oh, everyone look at my thing. Does anyone want some self-promotion while you're like looking for pasta on store shelves? Yeah, yeah, yeah. So the first 16 episodes of the show were all pre-COVID. which is so strange. And I think it was weirdly kind of benefit of the show.

The listeners were like, oh, it's so nice to hear people talking about things that aren't like the apocalypse right now. They're just talking about bullshit. Right. But I had started it right before that. And now it's been going for six years. It's been, yeah. And it's like the one steady part of the entertainment industry. I mean, it's not like there's so much money in podcasting, but it's a job.

It's something, yeah. Four out of probably five writers I know have not worked in years. are losing their health insurance and don't have outside anything. Yeah. So I feel very lucky that I like kind of get. Actually, I wouldn't even say kind of. I really get to do something I love doing. Yeah.

And it's, it really has become a, you know, a legitimate going concern. I mean, I see it, I think I see it more and more in being referenced in different places, you know. Yeah,

it's a pretty successful podcast. Yeah, I feel very lucky. I mean, like, I mean, whoever knows how that works. Right. I ask Sean, my producer, like,

are we okay? because I have no idea. I'm like, are 30 people watching or listening or 3 million? Well, it feels like the economics of podcasting are completely screwed as well. Yeah, yeah. Where like a bunch of money got poured into it, then vanished. And now other money from more traditional sources is showing up. And they're like, well, we want to support the top 10 podcasts.

And the rest of them can die. Well, the thing I always find is like I'll get lots of positive, like, oh, the show's doing really well. And then when it comes time to for a new contract and I'm like, well, maybe if it's doing so well I could get a little more money. Oh, no, no, no, no. Who do you think you are? Oh, no, no, no, no. Did we say it was doing well? It's doing terribly. We're losing money, hand over fist. No, no, no, we couldn't possibly. Okay. You know, but that's really the thing. I am. Okay. You just, I mean, describe my experience.

Yes. But that's the thing. Like, it really doesn't matter how successful your podcast is unless it is like blockbuster. Yes. Yes. If it's not, then there's, there is some money, but it's like, and I'm grateful to be making some money. But it's like, I think mostly people are like, if you have a successful podcast, you're good to go. It's like, no, this is like a job I do and I get some money.

Yeah, yeah. I would love to be making more money. It starts to make you feel a little crazy. you're like, wait, this is successful. Why isn't it like, whatever? More lucrative, yeah, yeah, yeah. Totally. But it's, I look at it as, you know, I do voiceovers.

I, you know, I have the ability to both beyond game shows and host game shows. You know, I can do remote pieces. Like, it's just another, like, freelance gig. Totally. You know, that I do. Yeah. And it just happens to be your face on it. Yeah.

And so, like, at least speaking for myself, like, it becomes much higher stakes. Yeah. Because you're like you want the thing you're putting out to be a good product. Yeah. You want to not look like a loser. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So it's like weirdly disproportional the amount of work

considering the money within the industry. Yeah, yeah. But again, I love sitting down and talking to people. It's so much fun. Oh, absolutely. And I, yeah. And I don't, it's not like anybody's being forced on me. You know, I mean, it's all people I want to talk.

No, no. No, no, no, not at all. I showed up here today with a gun. I'll record no matter what. Tell me, tell me about, like, the genesis of first, like, you saying, I think I'm going to do a podcast. What led to that? And then the concept of the podcast. It's, I mean, again, this feels so lucky.

I was working on a TV show corporate, which you were in, actually. Yes, yes. That was a good, weird show. Yeah. It was a weird, weird, funny show. Again, another sort of thing that probably couldn't happen now because it's like, whatever. That and all in the family. Just couldn't happen now.

In fact, I think a lot of people are comparing those shows a lot. I was driving home from work and I, somebody had my friend Matt, who was one of the creators of the show was like, you should have a podcast and I ignored him. But driving home, you know, things just pop into your head and like the entire concept of the podcast just kind of came to me. And so I mentioned again to Matt Ingebretzen and he's like, oh, you should do that if somebody does all the work for you. I was like, that seems like a great idea.

Yeah, yeah. So I just sat on it for a long time, and then I was at a game night at Karen Kilgariff's, my friend's house, and she, who has very successful podcaster. I mean, speaking of top 10, that's a big podcast. Yeah, and a hilarious comedian, too. Just such a funny person. Just the best, yeah. Yeah, like Karen's career pre that is so amazing and she's just been funny for such a long time.

Yeah. And that's kind of what I knew her from, we met through Twitter. Yeah. But I was at her house. And this was like, so it must have been 2018, 2019. And so my favorite murder was big, not as big as it is now. And whatever. We were sitting there just kind of talking.

And I was like, if I ever had a podcast, this is what it would be called. And she's like, I want to produce that. I didn't know they were producing at the time. Oh, wow. So I immediately felt so gross. Right, right. This is not the thing. Yeah.

But she was just immediately incredibly supportive of it. She's always been very supportive of me. Yeah. But they were just getting their network exactly right. So it was at least another year and a half before any of it started happening. I think we recorded our first episode at the end of 2019. And then into like I think the last March 9th of 2020, it was the last in person we were recorded before COVID.

But if I hadn't, I mean, it's just like pure chance any of this happened. And it's, I'm also so lucky and fortunate that people seem to enjoy what I do. Because it could have been such a falling on my face. Of course. Also, no other network would have given me a podcast at the time. Now I think I might have a little bit more luck with it because I've kind of had a proven thing work. But at the time, if I had pitched this elsewhere, they would have been like, who are you? Yeah.

And so just the fact that Karen was willing to take a chance on me is so lovely and great. Yeah. I mean, that's the best, just that's the best, you know, when people outside of comedy throughout the years I've been doing things. They're like, well, everybody just hires people they know. And it's like, yeah. I always think of it like, if you were going to open a hot dog stand, like, would you, would you, why not ask your friends?

You want to work at the hot dogs? You wouldn't go like, I need hot dog experts. It'd be like, it's, look, and we'll figure it out, you know, come on in, you know. Yeah, it's a, I mean, on the other side of that now, I'll say because like, on the, like, within writing because there are so few jobs and everyone's unemployed. There was a period when, you know, a writer's room would be 12 to 15 people and you didn't know that many people to hire as good writers. So it was a little easier to get into these things. But now it's literally like if you have a show, you know, at least 15 people who have been unemployed for a while. Yeah. So you're hiring

exclusively people, you know. Yeah, yeah. And only four of them as opposed to 12. Totally. And then the rest of them are mad at you. Yeah. And just resent you for the rest of your life. No will. But yeah, it's just like Karen took a chance on me. One person who didn't know me was Jimmy Kimmel who took a chance on me. And it's just like occasionally when somebody has the power and the resources and they're willing to take chances, it's so lovely. Yeah. It's like because how else do you do it?

Right. Or at least to begin. Yeah. And it's always I find too the people that it's to find good people that you like. I mean, and I haven't done, I haven't been like the benefact or. in very many cases. But whenever I have had the ability, it's like it's great for me, too. You know, I mean, it's so, it's so nice to not, not only that it feels good, but it's like,

oh, I found somebody good that's, that can contribute to just, whether it's this thing we're doing or just my life, but just to the competence level of my life. I brought something good into my life. Yeah, yeah. And it's working out. Exactly. Well, now the, the, I said no gifts. is the concept. Yes. And is that something that you had found before? Or was it just like a funny

sort of, I mean, it's a funny, it's a funny, like, because it is such a, it's the presumption that, well, of course you're going to buy me something. Right. You know, but like, I'm so humble. Like, there's, it's just so loaded with just like, there's something about that behavior that's very funny to me. A horse's ass is in there somewhere, you know. And I'm kind of that person's worst nightmare because if a thing says no gifts, I simply won't bring you a gift. Oh, you found the cheapest person in your life, and now you've given me permission.

Yes, exactly. So, like, that sort of etiquette and rules make me very uncomfortable, and I find them really funny. Like, just telling people what you want while saying you don't want it is very strange and funny to me. And then, you know, like, you're always just looking for a repeatable thing. And I was like, oh, my God, this is not only repeatable, I'm going to get things.

Yeah, yeah. I mean, that blew up in my face in a huge way because now my garage. which is just full of things I can't use. Most of the items I get are almost entirely, like, not practical. Yeah, yeah. But that's why I was thinking, like, because there are going to be some people that are going to impress, you know. Right. The one is going to show off.

Yes. Yeah, yeah. And then other people who remembered it like five minutes before the recording and they're like, well, I found this in the backseat of my car. Yes, exactly. Yeah, yeah. Which is totally fine. Just a bottle of snapple, you know, or whatever.

Exactly. It's a good idea, actually. Yeah, sure. Who can't use a snaple? But, no, I just, I feel like it's so rare that you have an idea that people just get immediately. Yeah. And it just feels like, oh, yeah, that sounds like it'll work. Yep.

And so this was one of those rare times where it's like, wow, this just came to me. This all feels so wrapped up and ready to go. Let's give it a try. And then it allows me to, one thing, in listening to a lot of podcasts, I just felt like I wanted to hear people have more fun. Yeah. just like have a nice time together. Yeah, yeah. And I had various other frustrations with podcasts.

I was like, okay, I'm going to just create this thing that's calming and fun and low stakes for everybody. Yeah. Even if they don't know me, they get to come in and feel nice. Yeah. And now when people are like, oh, the podcast is so calming, I'm like, wait, what? And they're like, oh, yeah, that was the initial goal. That's what I wanted. Oops.

Right. Yeah. I think it probably works against me sometimes that I'm not like a loud person. I feel like people respond to loud voices, excited personalities. But there seems to be some audience out there that likes things that are relaxing. Yeah, yeah. Well, it's funny. It's funny.

And it's like, because it's very incisive. And a lot of the show is kind of bitchy. But like bitchy in a way that is not. cruel. Yeah, that's what I would hope because I mean, I know a lot of bitchy people who are simply bitchy. Yes. I mean, comedians that I love who are, but it is like, at a certain point, you're like,

okay, you've got some issues there. Oh, so your persona is you. Yeah, yeah. Okay, interesting. Yeah. Well, that's, you can't take that off when you go home. Right. You're still wearing that costume.

Jesus Christ. Right. Yeah. So it's fun to be able to play into that a little bit, but where nobody feels like they're walking away. Like, what an asshole that person. I mean, I'm sure most of them, whatever. Whatever, what they think of me in their car on the drive home is whatever.

Not your business, really. You can't control it. Now, have you gotten any gifts that were kind of like offensive, like that offended you in any way? There have been no really offensive gifts. There have been a couple that have, when people just maybe didn't get the show or, you know, certain people will come on very ready to promote. Ah.

And when it gets into that territory, I'm just like, well, this isn't fun. Right, right. A large part of, again, why I wanted to start the podcast is like there are 50 million podcasts that talk about the industry and people's careers. I don't really need to do that because I'll probably be bad. Yeah. So when somebody shows up to promote something heavily, I'm just like, oh, I'm already just kind of leaning back. But, I mean, we've done almost 300 episodes now, and almost every episode I've loved and somebody's brought something that was worth talking about or interesting. I will say Jamie Lee, this is a famous one.

She gave me a chewed-up dog toy. That was the first, that was the only one that went immediately into the garbage afterward. Right, of course. And also, weirdly, the only one where an assistant was like, she might want that back, so call us. But then I talked to Jamie, she's like, no, that's the wires have been crossed. I don't need garbage back in my life. But yeah, they've all been just kind of, I hope people will show up with something they want to talk about. Yeah.

I think that's, I'm hoping that I open a door to, because I often want to show up and talk about something and then there's never an excuse to. Right. Bring something and there will be a perfect, perfect excuse to talk about something you like or are interested in. Have you gotten anything so nice that it's embarrassing? Like, it's like too nice. Oh, God. No. No.

And this is kind of the big problem. Yeah. You know, I've had. It's up our game. I've had people on the podcast where I know their salary is public information. And those numbers are always accurate. No, there's never, there have been some, you know, thoughtful or interesting things, but nobody's gone out of their way to give me a boat, which is a huge problem. A Rolex.

You know, I know luxury items. Sure, sure. Maybe we could send out kind of a wish list with it. If I come back, I'm going to give me. you my grandmother's China because it's fucking taking up space in my house. And I know what, you know, and like, my

mom is like, send it back to me. And it's like, no, it'll cost $700 to send it back to you. So, yeah, you can have my grandmother. I can't even, what did I bring? You brought a Conan jacket, denim jacket. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Very nice jacket. Yeah. So that's, you know,

people occasionally bring things that are just like, oh, this is a nice item. Well, I brought that because number one, it cost me nothing. Right, which I appreciate. Yeah, yeah. And I also, too, have never felt comfortable wearing Conan things. That makes sense. It's like I know it's not my name, but it's, I feel like I'm such a part of that.

Yeah, that it's just like I can't do that. I can't. I have, there's a company, and it's delicious stuff, Andy's Frozen Yogurt, and they sent me t-shirts. And so I have like Andy's Frozen Yogurt T-shirts. I only wear them around the house. Yeah, you can wear that to bed. I'm embarrassed like or in the garden. I'm not,

I'm embarrassed to wear that out in the world, you know. It's kind of worse than wearing a band's t-shirt to a concert. Yeah. It's just like, who do you think you are? Yeah, yeah. Although there was an era, like 80s metal, where people would in bands would wear their own t-shirts. Now I support that. I love that.

That's so awesome. That's a uniform. Right, exactly. And I appreciate it. Where somebody in striper is wearing a striper t-shirt. In case you forgot. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I remember, I think it was in Scorpions.

I think it was Michael Shanker. It was one of the Shanker brothers had a leather jacket with his own face airbrushed on the back. That is an incredible. And I saw a picture of him like looking over his shoulder pointing out like, get a load. It's my face, you know. Wow. I could get into that. I could get into it when other people are.

I'd love to be around the people. Well, probably not want to be around them too long. I think people are just baffled into submission when you're doing something like that. They really can't do anything about it. Well, do you have anything big on the horizon? No, I mean, you know, it's just. I mean, we're coming up on our 300th episode of the podcast, which I'm really excited about. And you're going to have a big gala.

Yeah, we're having, of course, you'll meet the invitations in the mail. Yeah. The part of all is in the text. No, we've got that coming up, which is really exciting. And then, you know, it's just the hope that the TV industry corrects itself in some way when more TV shows get made. Yeah. Yeah. You know, it's like it feels such like such a separate world at this point where it's like, hopefully we'll get to work in TV again.

Do you do your podcast live ever? We do. Yeah. But it's entirely on my shoulders. So it's like I'm an enormous procrastinator. And so we end up doing like two a year. But I hope you do a couple in the next few months. It's just literally laziness that's keeping it.

But we have such a good time doing it. And it's so fun to see listeners. Do you do this live? I have. But it doesn't lend itself to be. I mean, the core idea of it in that you sort of, you're introspective. Right. And you kind of think about, you know, why you.

are the way you are because of where you come from. But in, you know, it's light and it's meant to be fun and funny. It doesn't work. I mean, I've done it a couple times. And it's just like one time we did it at Comic-Con. It was a parna and thenchurla. Oh, I love for it. We were in a bar that was, we were in one half of the bar recording the introspection podcast.

And on the other side, a much larger group was watching a football game. So it was just, it was impossible. Oh, what a nightmare. Yeah. Yeah. So I've done it alive a couple of times, but it doesn't, like I said, it doesn't really lend itself to it very well. And I have, you know, in my, I'm such the bad entrepreneur, but I, you know, I think, well,

I can make money, you know, and I'm like, okay, maybe I could come up with a podcast that would lend itself to doing life. And I've attempted it and then done a couple, you know, bits of it. And then just like, I just don't have the follow through on it. I just, you know. Same. Because it's just, I would need something to become a massive hit right away for me to go, oh, okay, this is worth.

Right. It's like partially impatience. Yeah, this is worth me not staring at a wall, but actually applying myself to something. Yeah, if I could just not be permanently depressed, that would also help. Because once I'm doing a live show, I'm like, this is so much fun. Yeah, yeah, yeah. enjoying this. It's all, but also when you have a guest-based show, when you're not in New York or L.A. or Chicago, finding a guest can get tricky. Yes, absolutely. Unless you're bringing people

along and then that becomes a whole logistical nightmare. Yeah. And also booking something yourself is the worst. I mean, the worst. Even when you have a booker, I mean, the idea of just having, asking anyone out in the world to do something with you is so for me, horrified. I know, I know. So, yeah, like, podcasting is so strange where the conversation I enjoy having, everything outside of it is something that makes me deeply uncomfortable. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it. Well, I said no gifts is having its 300th episode coming up.

When will that be out? Do you think? That's a great question. Why would you ask me that, Andy? Why would I know? Listen, it's up to you, people. Set a Google alert or something. Your dream guest Martha Stewart,

maybe she'll be there for the 300th. We've got to get Martha on the show. I'm going to start making connections. I need to become more psycho. She's a stoner. She's a stoner. She is a stoner. Or you get Snoop and then she will be hot on his own.

Right. Right. We're going to get her at some point. Yeah, yeah. Well, Bridger, thank you so much. This has been a lovely conversation. Thank you. Thank you.

Yeah, it was lovely seeing you. And thank all of you for listening. I'll be back next week with something that won't be nearly as good as this. I'm sorry. I might as well give that disclaimer now. Bye. The three questions with Andy Richter is a team cocoa production. It is produced by Sean Doherty and engineered by Rich Garcia. Additional engineering support by Eduardo Perez and Joanna Samuel. Executive produced by Nick Leow, Adam Sacks, and Jeff Ross.

Talent booking by Paula Davis, Gina Batista, with assistance from Maddie Ogden. Research by Alyssa Graal. Don't forget to rate and review and subscribe to the three questions with Andy Richter wherever you get your podcasts. And do you have a favorite question you always like to ask people? Let us know in the review section. Can't you tell my loves are growing? Can't you feel it ain't it showing?

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