Mark Normand | The Blocks Podcast w/ Neal Brennan | EPISODE 13 

Imagine having such an INSANE childhood that you brush over the fact that your nanny was murdered... my God I never knew Mark's story before

One word comes to mind when I see Mark and that's "lovable". He has so much to offer the world and his perspective is one of a kind. I'm happy he is getting his spotlight lately, he truly deserves it!

Man, Mark is way more interesting than I already thought he was. Can't believe he thinks we don't wanna hear this stuff! Makes me feel better about my shit and feel better knowing HE'S not alone either.

Neil has the tremendous capacity to ask some of the most emotionally guarded people and not only entice them to share some of their most personal blocks, but share them in a very eloquent and matter-of-fact manner.

Mark is so relatable. The fact that he doesn’t look at Neal while describing his blocks is admirable. Everyone is scared about vulnerabilities and Mark was trying his best to keep to himself and at the same time to open up enough:

80 diamond push-ups in a single set is pretty damn impressive.

Finally someone with relatable, real and crazy blocks like the ones I have

Hearing Mark talk about the noises he makes… I think that there are probably a lot more people like me that really needed to hear someone else hear those words. Thank you for being brave.

Been waiting for Mark to get on this show. Perfect guest. May need a part 2 and 3!

I’m so glad you’re podcasting again. I was heartbroken when How Neal Feel stopped dropping because I had just gotten into it a couple months before. Thanks for coming back to us Neal! ❤

Mark Normand is AMAZING! Thank you so much for having him on! Great job Neal!

It's great seeing Normand open up. Gives another layer of depth to his comedy.

Mark Normand is one of my favorite comedians but I just want to give him a big hug! ETA: Mark we care.

I cannot stress enough how glued to this conversation I have been. Absolutely riveting. I am a huge fan of Neal-and a lay person yet huge fan of comics I had not yet had the opportunity to know anything about Mark. I have more in common with this conversation than you can possibly imagine. THANK YOU-this was a game changer…and SO generous.❤

Normand got away with not bringing up the 'can't make eye contact' block.. I'm disappointed. That's a great one 👌

Love Mark! It’d be awesome to see Joe List on the show as well!

Been following Mark for years and didn’t know he was this f’d up. I appreciate his candor. This just makes me love him more. Neal really is the best person for this. Everyone that’s been on has a true appreciation for him and it’s obvious with how they open up. Much respect to both Neal and Mark.

Glad Mark came on and shared so much!! Hope he knows there's a lot of us out here with nothing but love for him.

'Tuesdays w Stories' is by far one of the greatest podcasts of all time... Mark is a living legend.... It's always Comedy... Thank you for this interview.

I knew this would be a good combo. Mark opened up more than he was comfortable with only because Neal helped him embrace it and not make him feel weird about it. Good combo.

I was surprised “feeling invisible” wasn’t a block when he talked about his parents. This was such a good episode.

I think Mark really appreciated being pushed past his discomfort to discuss himself, it seems like he just needs to know it's valuable to someone else to embrace it. Great work Neal!

Probably the best and most psychologically informative podcast i watch regularly. There are other podcasts, but this one, normalizing deficits we all experience. Golden. Amazing. Epic. Love you Mark, love you Neal. 👍😤👍

I think this is my favorite episode of Blocks yet.

Mark Normand and his comedy makes me feel I can make it. That everything is going to be OK somehow. Not to mention he is unbelievable funny

This is becoming my can't miss pod. Love the format. Shame you didn't shout out Tuesdays with Stories though. IMO it's the pod Mark shines on the best!

What a great episode. Love Mark. The watch beeping in every cast is so funny.

This pod has officially snuck it's way up into maybe the Top 2 of my week, and I listen to at least 10 different shows a week for the last 2 or 3 years lol. Good fuckin shit Neal

BEST ep of Blocks Mark is a special dude & he probably doesn't even know it or believe it Grateful for his transparency Amazing conversation

This podcast feels like a comedic therapy session and I’m here for it haha.

This is the best episode yet. Mark just made a fan in me!

This is why I love comedy/ comedians. They are a lot more relatable and turn trauma into comedy. I’ve been watching Mark for a couple years now, and I’d definitely say he’s in my top 3 FAVORITE comedians. I’ll be seeing him in Dayton in April!

My level of excitement when I open RU-vid and see Mark is your guest. Dude. 😲

The thing that's helped my anxiety the most over the years is learning that every person (no matter how seemingly funny/put-together/etc) struggles with similar feelings of discomfort and inadequacy. Your podcast is helping lots of people feel less alone, and as a result, less lost. Thank you Neal!

Ayo mark, you're good as you are and appreciate you sharing bro 👊🏾

This show really humanizes our comedy heroes - thanks for being able to be honest and inviting other people (especially men) to do the same.

finally someone who again did their homework, the episoeds where the guest didn't send in their blocks in advance all felt mostly superficial

59:34 Mark you the man! Sleep Apnea maybe? Once I started wearing my apnea mask. My life changed, went from 4 hours a night to 8-9. Love yah my dude!

It’s awesome to relate to Mark on this level! I like the vulnerability he is doing on here! The not being able to sleep thing is me right now unfortunately. I used to get prescribed Seroquel and it made me sleep sometimes…most other times I would do crazy sleep eating/walking. It was hard to get off of, that’s just me but be careful you comedy people!

Mark, you have made me feel more understood in this episode than years of therapy. You are the best brother, keep it up! And Neal… you are the real deal. New fan, but glad to have found you and this cast 👍🏽

Mark is dope as hell. Great interview. With that being said I definitely cant wait for Adam Sandlers interview.

I was not in the mood for anything but as soon as I saw this I clicked on it and started watching, that’s how much I care and want to know.. Him Talking about his weird shit is so helpful and somehow helpful because me and him share a few of these weird things and it made me feel so much better and helped me explain some of them

This was heart breaking and inspiring. Marks uncomfortability was so palpable, but he just kept going willingly. so amazing to see someone with so much hardship grow up to be so self-aware and freaking funny

Mark is textbook autism level 1. Look it up. Ppl hear autism and think it’s massively debilitating, but it’s not. He’s not “normal”, but he gets by fine in life. Thanks for sharing , mark!! PHENOMENAL episode.

Playing armchair psychologist: it's interesting to see how all the symptoms (alcohol, OCD, bedwetting, internal monologue) all tie back to being a child in a chaotic upbringing. I hope he can find a way to process it and be gentle with himself. I get the self-loathing...it's tiring.

The one thing that I’ve found to truly fix chronic insomnia is C.B.T-I. It was an absolute game changer.

This is one of those pods I listen to immediately when I see a new episode. Appreciate you Neal 🖤

Normand is hands down my Favorite Comic! He’s so vulnerable and honest on Podcasts I honestly thought I heard all the stories. I hope he keeps up the Therapy sessions and stops taking the sleeping pills. That’s not going to end well. 😢

Not sure if this will even be seen as this is my second comment in a few days because I am still so ‘struck’ and blown away. I’ve literally watched this Pod 5 or maybe 7 times? Mark you are incredibly brave, smart, empathetic, ‘flawed’ absolutely like the rest of us-your willingness to so generously tell your story is ‘beyond’… BEYOND expectation of anyone to share in this crazy open forum. It strikes me that maybe your bravery will allow me to be brave enough to explain to my therapist what I have been experiencing for just ever. Jesus I cannot stress enough how much I feel (53 yrs old btw) understood-in a way that I can only describe as I feel ‘seen’ in a way I never have. I can only say THANK YOU ♥️

Thanks Mark for sharing so openly. You’re not alone in you struggles. Great guest Neal!

I care Mark! Your story helps others who have been through a lot of shit in life, but look at comedy as a way to get through it. Thanks queef! 🎉

This was a great episode. Neal pulled so much (serious) stuff out of Mark. I watch Mark's pod/webcasts with Joe List and Sam Morrill, and Mark always finds a way (like many comedians) to deflect anything serious - however, he didn't do it as much with Neal. Found that interesting. Yet, they were both still funny and entertaining. I got to see and meet Mark a few years ago when he came and performed standup in my little dinky town (Salisbury, MD on Maryland's Eastern Shore). Apparently, they booked him before the pandemic and then it got cancelled. It seems as though Mark got a little more well-known during the pandemic, and I'm sure he could have said "nah, I'm not doing that gig." But he did it - will always like him for that. Plus, he had quite the ordeal getting back to NY from Maryland, which he detailed on "Tuesdays with Stories." COMEDY!

this was such a good pod. A rarity these days. Kudos to Neal for the key format and Mark for opening up. Really made me feel okay as well as inspired to take on the dragons that we all face.

Thank you Neal Brennan for hosting Mark Normand and displaying his blocks with rawness and sincerity.

I don't think anyone will be able to top this one. Neil and Mark are the best.

Your killing it Mark! People love you for who you are!

I never thought I'd relate to Mark so much.

Mark is wonderful, protect him at all costs

I loved this interview. I watch we might be drunk and protect our parks and this is a side of him I genuinely enjoyed. He’s deep and open here. He may be my favorite now that I understand him a bit more. Thank you for sharing ❤

Holy cow. Didn’t more this is also a format to consume. When I saw that Mark was going to be a guest, I knew that it would be very interesting. Loved the finale. This is a rather special episode.

Hey Neal, I love this podcast. Its so great to see comedians that I like be so candid about their shortcomings. This especially was a great one. I have on request, please get Vir Das on this podcast, would really love to know what are his BLOCKS and how he deals with it. Please keep going, you are fantastic.

Thanks for being willing to be so open about these things, Mark. It's embarrassing and sometimes confronting to talk about (especially when most of the time people think you're functioning normally). I'm sure a lot of people feel relieved just after hearing your experiences. Also, your wife sounds amazing and good on you for sitting down together to write your blocks down. I'm really keen to see how you've progressed since this episode!

This is some real resilience. I respect how vulnerable Mark can be on camera

Perfect guest for Block.Mark is such a fascinating, and hilarious, guy. great episode.

Your ability to be *minimally* creepy in the intros is impressive to me. Most people overshoot.

You're doing work here that is so important. Youre both truly warriors for humanity. Please never stop doing what you do

Big fan of you both. Neal, cannot articulate just how much I enjoy this new iteration of your work...despite the words I just used. Thank you Jimmy Carr for planting the seed. Mark, you're comedic perspective is amazing. I wish nothing but continued success for the two of you

Neal! What a get. Mark is a constant roll of witty word choices and observations. You need to get Gaffigan on the pod next!

Super stoked for this one. Loving Neal’s pod:)

love neal, i hadn’t listened to the pod til this episode and this might be my new favorite. this is amazing and helpful for all of us struggling. we aren’t alone.

This is the one that kept me all the way through. Also I think Mark is treat, but thank god he was willing to do this. Thanks man, this helped.

Best ep. so far. Love how much Mark opened up on this ❤

I like Mark more knowing the insecurities, especially with the self awareness of his insecurities

This is a treasure trove. So many things. One after another. Thank you so much.

This was enthralling. I have loved Normand as a comedian for years, but this incredibly intelligent conversation made me realize how much I respect comedians as humans. Their next level perception of the world around us is what keeps me from cracking. This podcast is legit helpful as well.

I already know this ep is gonna be great! Watching now.....😊

Can we talk about how great the jump cuts are, so funny!

Right on for putting your own spin on the podcast game and crushing it out of the gate. The Blocks pod feels fresh and unique while keeping the realness of an unedited podcast.

The timing of this episode with where I’m at in life right now couldn’t have been better. Thank you both

Hell yea! The guests have been top notch! Keep ‘em comin Neal 😁

51:52 Neal used to have a joke about this, “all my white friends have trouble sleeping, all my black friends need to sleep is a sandwich and a moment of silence” lol

lol my favourite is "I hate when people show me something on there phone" 3 min later, Neal reads something from his phone and Marc sits there and pretends to be interested.' oooh wo ooo w ' GOLD.

I have watched every episode and this one was by far thee most fascinating - and I have never heard of Mark Normand!!! This episode just FLEW by. Holy cow. I feel like we just scratched the surface with him! Now I gotta go look up all of Mark's stuff and watch it. Great job Neal & Mark!

Tell mark that I care very much about everything he said. It made me feel better about myself. I didn't realize how much in common we had and I would have never known

Amazing episode thanks Mark for being open

Marks vulnerability here was so refreshing from him and added so many layers to his genius! This pod is doing what it wanted to.

i dig mark. stop drinking if you want to sleep. if you want to slow your anxiety stop drinking. i can't say it enough.

Great pod with good people! It was helpful to hear about rumination and avoidance. Definitely going to explore those...

I've always loved Mark's comedy and now I really love his real self here

I think this is the 1st podcast in a long time that I have actually finished all the way through. Couldn't get enough of it. Also helps that it was only an hour long lol.

I've always been a fan of Mark's comedy, learning his story makes me appreciate and understand it even more. This podcast is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

I messaged my brother immediately to share this with him. We love you guys. Great episode.

Normand on the pod!! Love it. Been waiting for this one.

This was incredible vulnerable from Mark. Watched 2 or 3 times all the way thru

AMAZING!! Thanks Mark for being so open

"Nothing dries up a snatch like Monty Python" LMAO! At 41 years old, that's a hard disagree for me. Monty Python quote on a date is golden. PS- Mark's tics are absolutely endearing. Sometimes when I randomly recall an embarrassing memory, I will inadvertently meow. Out-loud. WHY? Now I don't feel so alone, lol!

Mark is by far one the best comedians in history.

That was so good. It was an awesome conversation with two of the greats.

Props to mark for opening up like this.

It’s amazing how Mark thinks people don’t find this interesting but this is the best podcast of Mark I’ve seen, first time seeing this podcast as well definitely a new fan here great work Neal!