Mentor Buffet

Dan LaMorte, comedian and ultramarathoner, joins host Alexi Pappas to discuss mentorship (and the lack of mentorship) in the comedy world. He encourages us to sit in the presence of suffering without trying to numb it. All experiences are good, even painful ones. He shares what it’s been like going through his divorce, talks about his love for running, and shares how important his family’s been in his life. Alexi and Dan talk about respecting their audiences and what artistic integrity means to them. They recount running the half marathon at the LA marathon together. Dan names Ram Dass and Mitch Hedberg as mentor figures. He even cracks a joke or two.   For a limited time, we’re partnering with Merrell to give you an exclusive offer of 25% off your first purchase using the code MENTORBUFFET25 when you checkout on Merrell.com.    Visit GoBrewing.com/alexi50 for 50% first beer club subscription order with code ALEXI50  If recovery is something you know you should be taking more seriously, visit therabody.com and use the code MENTORBUFFET at checkout for 15% off one product of your choice. Your body (and goals!) will thank you! Terms and conditions apply.

Alexi answers listeners' advice questions about confidence, cohabitating with the in-laws, and how to break a bad habit.

Jacqueline Novak is a comedian and writer and actor. Her show “Get On Your Knees” was a smash hit and in 2024 it became a Netflix comedy special. On this episode of Mentor Buffet, Jacqueline and Alexi discuss mentorship in the abstract. They offer hypotheses about what their purposes might be. They discuss their systems of motivation. Jacqueline shares how she got into comedy and what makes a project worthwhile to her. Jacqueline asks Alexi about long distance running. Jacqueline expresses her gratitude for having creative agony. It’s a beautiful conversation, unlike any other episodes of Mentor Buffet.   Jacqueline is on tour now through May performing comedy. You can find a show coming to your city on jokesnovak.com.   Follow Mentor Buffet on Instagram, www.instagram.com/mentorbuffet  For a limited time, we’re partnering with Merrell to give you an exclusive offer of 25% off your first purchase using the code MENTORBUFFET25 when you checkout on Merrell.com. If recovery is something you know you should be taking more seriously, visit therabody.com and use the code MENTORBUFFET at checkout for 15% off one product of your choice. Your body (and goals!) will thank you! Terms and conditions apply.

Olympic bronze medalist Molly Seidel joins host Alexi Pappas on Mentor Buffet to discuss her transition into the ultramarathon. She shares about the process of getting in touch with what she actually wants, and how she’s come to break her old pattern of doing what she thinks other people expect of her—both in her running career and in her relationships. She talks about why she’s attracted to the infinite unknown of the trails, and explains how she came to realize that no single moment of success would ever fix her problems. The girls also discuss what it means to be a good friend and talk about how they’ve been there for each other the past few years.  For a limited time, we’re partnering with Merrell to give you an exclusive offer of 25% off your first purchase using the code MENTORBUFFET25 when you checkout on Merrell.com.   If recovery is something you know you should be taking more seriously, visit therabody.com and use the code MENTORBUFFET at checkout for 15% off one product of your choice. Your body (and goals!) will thank you! Terms and conditions apply. Visit GoBrewing.com/alexi50 for 50% first beer club subscription order with code ALEXI50.

Pat Regan is a TV writer for the hit shows Hacks and Overcompensating. He co-hosts the podcast Seek Treatment with Cat Cohen. He's writing a book right now. On this episode of Mentor Buffet, he joins host Alexi Pappas to talk about the very beginning: dreaming of writing for TV, not talking for his entire freshman year of high school, making the boys on the track team laugh for the first time—and then later, how he got into comedy, what it was like moving to LA in his mid-30s, and what it's been like working as a writer in Hollywood. The conversation is about what it means to find your voice and chase your dreams even when you don't know if you're necessarily moving toward them. Pat's a lit crazy genius and he'll make you laugh. If recovery is something you know you should be taking more seriously, visit therabody.com and use the code MENTORBUFFET at checkout for 15% off one product of your choice. Your body (and goals!) will thank you! Terms and conditions apply. For a limited time, we’re partnering with Merrell to give you an exclusive offer of 25% off your first purchase using the code MENTORBUFFET25 when you checkout on Merrell.com. Follow Mentor Buffet on Instagram: https://instagram.com/mentorbuffet

Alexi answers listeners' questions about how to combat disillusionment, how to deal with crumbling New Year's Resolutions, and how to choose whose advice to trust.

Social media star Victoria Paris joins host Alexi Pappas on Mentor Buffet to discuss her internet origin story and how her relationship to social media has changed over time. Victoria shares about how positive her relationship with her girlfriend Nico has been the past few years and how she’s grown as a person because of it. Victoria also talks about why Bethany Frankel is an icon to her. She shares killer advice she got from her friend Noah Miller. And she explains why that white man is not your mentor.   For a limited time, we’re partnering with Merrell to give you an exclusive offer of 25% off your first purchase using the code MENTORBUFFET25 when you checkout on Merrell.com. Visit www.gobrewing.com/alexi for 15% off your next order. Follow Mentor Buffet on Instagram: https://instagram.com/mentorbuffet.

Rainn Wilson joins host Alexi Pappas for the second time on Mentor Buffet, this time to discuss spiritual tools for modern living. Rainn shares his path to spirituality in his 20s living in New York in the 90s. Rainn says the question, “What are we really paying attention to?” is really to ask “What are we really worshipping?” They discuss screentime, the billboards in Calabasas, and why young people are in a hope deficit. Rainn also introduces The Soulboom Workbook, his new book that’s out now, that offers a program for getting in touch with your spirituality. For a limited time, we’re partnering with Merrell to give you an exclusive offer of 25% off your first purchase using the code MENTORBUFFET25 when you checkout on Merrell.com. Follow Mentor Buffet on Instagram at https://instagram.com/mentorbuffet

Blake Mycoskie, the founder of TOMS shoes, joins host Alexi Pappas to share advice he’s learned on the path of creating purpose-driven business and along his healing journey. Blake shares advice he’s learned from his dad, from Sarah Blakely the founder of Spanx, from his therapist Dr. Dan, and others. Blake shares what it means to be ENOUGH and shares his new bracelet with Alexi. Blake and Alexi both share stories from the lows of their Depressions and talk about how they climbed out. Blake also urges listeners to try talking to themselves in the future.  For a limited time, we’re partnering with Merrell to give you an exclusive offer of 25% off your first purchase using the code MENTORBUFFET25 when you checkout on Merrell.com. Follow Mentor Buffet on Instagram: https://instagram.com/mentorbuffet.

Alexi answers listeners’ questions about how to parent a crazy kid, how to get what you want, and how to move on after chasing a dream and coming up short. Follow Mentor Buffet on Instagram: https://instagram.com/mentorbuffet.   For a limited time, we’re partnering with Merrell to give you an exclusive offer of 25% off your first purchase using the code MENTORBUFFET25 when you checkout on Merrell.com.

Cam Hanes is a world-class bowhunter. On this episode of Mentor Buffet, he joins host Alexi Pappas to express his gratitude for his grandmother who created a safe-haven for him in his younger years, and his late friend Roy who is his number-1 hunting partner, the man who really believed in Cam, and the guy he could tell anything to. Cam shares why it’s important to him to have a close relationship to pain, why he likes to live on the edge, and what it really means to be reliable to others. Cam and Alexi also recount the Oregon hunting trip they went on together last month. This is a beautiful unfiltered conversation between two friends you’ll be glad you listened to.  For a limited time, we’re partnering with Merrell to give you an exclusive offer of 25% off your first purchase using the code MENTORBUFFET25 when you checkout on Merrell.com. Visit www.gobrewing.com/alexi for 15% off your next order.  Follow Mentor Buffet on Instagram at https://instagram.com/mentorbuffet Cam’s new book “Undeniable: How To Reach The Top And Stay There” is available for order now at https://www.amazon.com/Undeniable-How-Reach-Stay-There/dp/1250365945

Cooper Raiff, the writer, director, and lead actor of Shit House, Cha Cha Real Smooth, and now Hal and Harper, which is now streaming on Mubi, joins host Alexi Pappas to discuss what it means to make true art, how he develops relationships with his characters, and what a good mentor looks like. He shares about his relationship with his mentor Jay Duplass, who he met because he emailed him a short film he made during his spring break freshman year of college. Cooper also talks about what it means to get rid of fear. He shares about his ideal creative process. And he says he trusts in the universe. For a limited time, we’re partnering with Merrell to give you an exclusive offer of 25% off your first purchase using the code MENTORBUFFET25 when you checkout on Merrell.com. Follow Mentor Buffet on Instagram at http://instagram.com/mentorbuffet

The amazing Gabby Reece joins Alexi on Mentor Buffet and shares so much wisdom it'll knock your socks off. For a limited time, we’re partnering with Merrell to give you an exclusive offer of 25% off your first purchase using the code MENTORBUFFET25 when you checkout on Merrell.com. Follow Mentor Buffet on Instagram at https://instagram.com/mentorbuffet.

Alexi answers listeners' advice questions about dealing with anxiety and getting out of a toxic relationship.

Ryan Holiday, the writer who has popularized stoicism among millions of readers today, joins host Alexi Pappas for the second consecutive episode of Mentor Buffet to share about the very beginning—from sandbagging on the high school cross country team, to being promised a job that didn’t exist at a talent agency, to dropping out of college not certain about where his path was leading him. One thing’s been true: Ryan has kept it moving forward. Ryan recounts the earliest days of his writing career, discusses discipline, and talks about why he rarely writes about himself in his books. Ryan also shares about his relationship with Rich Roll and talks about what he’s learned from being a parent.  Ryan’s new book Wisdom Takes Work is out now. Ryan talks about the book on the other episode of Mentor Buffet, titled RYAN HOLIDAY: Wisdom Takes Work.  For a limited time, we’re partnering with Merrell to give you an exclusive offer of 25% off your first purchase using the code MENTORBUFFET25 when you checkout on Merrell.com. Follow Mentor Buffet on Instagram at https://instagram.com/mentorbuffet.

Ryan Holiday, the writer who has popularized the ideas of stoicism among millions of people, joins host Alexi Pappas to talk about his mentors from history. From the Roman Empire, Ryan calls on Marcus Aurelius, Hadrian, and Antoninus, but he also calls on legendary basketball coach Gregg Popovich, the writer Joan Didion, Florence Nightingale the mother of modern nursing, and Michel de Montaigne, the french philosopher. Ryan believes our greatest mentors can be found in books. He also shares about why he was first attracted to stoicism, what it means to him now, and how it could help us all.  For a limited time, we’re partnering with Merrell to give you an exclusive offer of 25% off your first purchase using the code MENTORBUFFET25 when you checkout on Merrell.com.  You can find Alexi's favorite Merrell shoes and gear at merrell.com/alexi. Mentor Buffet has teamed up with Square. Go to  square.com/go/mentorbuffet to learn more about how your business can grow with Square.

Alexi is back with another episode of Help Me Please, where she answers listeners' advice questions—about receiving criticism, finding or creating your dream job, and when to break off a marriage. Alexi also shares an update on her running.

Zack Bornstein, the writer and director and comedian, joins host Alexi Pappas to talk about the beginning of his creative career in Hollywood and the lessons he’s since learned along the way. Zack emphasizes that creative output holds all the answers. Make more work and your voice will reveal itself. Zack also shares about mentors of his, including the writers and directors Jonathan Groff and Bill Lawrence.  Check out http://merrell.com/alexi for Alexi’s collection of Merrell products.

Nicole McLaughlin, the prolific upcycler and fashion designer, joins host Alexi Pappas on Mentor Buffet to discuss her creative process, the importance of spending time alone, and how she worked up the courage to make a big leap and change her whole life—from working a mostly predictable corporate job at Reebok, to launching her own business and career, completely on her own terms. This conversation is about creating something that didn’t exist before.  If you love Mentor Buffet, we’d love to hear from you. Please fill out the audience survery: http://voicingchange.media/mentorbuffet Shop Alexi’s Merrell collection: http://merrell.com/alexi Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mentorbuffet

Alexi answers listener advice questions about helping people who don’t want to be helped, how to make a big change, and how to fix the problems that football can cause within a marriage. Alexi also shares an update on her running.