Absurd, honest comedy delivered through the vulnerable personal voice memos of Alex Dobrenko: tv actor+writer to some, father to one, and friend to all.
botharetrue.substack.com (https://botharetrue.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)
humor is not about being the funniest person in the room?!!?
Host interviews Chris Duffy, author of *Humor Me*, who explains that humor is less about being the funniest person and more about creating conditions where laughter happens, which fosters connection; this is an interview.
29 Jul 2025
hello, i love you, won't you pick up your phone??? (with audio of me reading it)
Alex Dobrenko shares a personal essay about parental anxieties and overbearing phone calls, exploring themes of guilt, fear, and the eventual realization of becoming one's own parents; this is a personal reflection.
26 Jun 2025
a quick yet shockingly important video message about today's batwrite that will move you EVEN IF you don't attend the batwrite at all ("wow")
The host discusses an engaging and potentially humorous cowriting session related to the batwrite event.
1 May 2025
how to write about the vulnerable stuff your family doesn't know about (and other fun easy topics haha!)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit botharetrue.substack.com (https://botharetrue.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7)
Before I get into the video, first off THANK YOU to all of the amazing people who have joined the BATCAVE!!!
Seeing actual people, a lot of whom I know and admire and respect, joining this little community and saying kind things like:
Well that melts me faster than chocolate on smores night.
If you’re interested in joining the BATCAVE, click here. (http://botharetrue.substack.com/subscribe)
Wait,…
20 Feb 2025
they begged me not to publish this
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit botharetrue.substack.com/subscribe (https://botharetrue.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)
1 Feb 2025
Talking comedy with God (David Javerbaum who is “tv royalty” according to Arthur from Substack)
Thank you Caroline Cala Donofrio (https://substack.com/profile/28406285-caroline-cala-donofrio), Mike Sowden (https://substack.com/profile/110857-mike-sowden), Amy Gabrielle (https://substack.com/profile/5498662-amy-gabrielle), Lyle McKeany (https://substack.com/profile/3404592-lyle-mckeany), Sanjiv Bhattacharya (https://substack.com/profile/2728047-sanjiv-bhattacharya), and many others for tuning into my live video with TheTweetOfGod (https://substack.com/profile/274442645-thetweetofgod)! Join me for my next live video in the app.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit botharetrue.substack.com/subscribe (https://botharetrue.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)
17 Sept 2024
me saying the titular line in the film Holes (2003)
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit botharetrue.substack.com/subscribe (https://botharetrue.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)
31 Jul 2024
Alex Dobrenko SAVES the Sublime website (BRAVE)
If this ain’t an ad for Sublime (https://substack.com/profile/222030036-sublime) , idk what is.
www.sublime.app (http://www.sublime.app)
a website that works
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit botharetrue.substack.com/subscribe (https://botharetrue.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)
27 Oct 2023
Aren't all parents competitive???
Rae Katx and I talk every Friday.
We say it’s to give writing feedback but it’s mostly just an excuse to hang and catch up.
Interesting, how connecting with one of your best friends at such a frequency only seems possible — allowed, even — under the auspices of ‘work.’
This fact seems somehow a perfect segue to the conversation we had last week.
To jump straight in and listen to the audio or watch on video, click here (https://botharetrue.substack.com/i/138317273/how-to-listen-watch).
When overachievers have kids
We decided to record this convo after Rae’s feedback on an early draft of my essay My son, the two year old soccer prodigy (https://botharetrue.substack.com/p/my-son-the-two-year-old-soccer-prodigy), which boiled down to ‘Alex, you know that not every parent is this competitive about their kid.’
No I did not know that. I’m still not sure I do. In this convo we discuss that feedback and:
* how we each deal with the feeling of wanting your kid to the best one.
* or, even worse, knowing that your kid is the best at literally whatever activity they are doing and being frustrated that neither the kid nor anyone else is able to see it.
* how all of this will only get harder as our two-year-old kids…get older.
* the absurd need to always apologize for your kid when they do anything ‘wrong’ in public
And I even try to connect ideas from Finite and Infinite Games into the world of parenting!
A lil background
We’ve been friends for fifteen years, bonded by a ridiculous long-standing joke (https://raekatz.substack.com/p/ode-to-an-inside-joke), a niche type of OCD (fun!), and a shared interest in cutting to the core of big questions. This longstanding connection is particularly special to us because of our radically different styles, which are on display in our respective newsletters Inner Workings (https://open.substack.com/pub/raekatz)and .
Important service announcement
I strongly recommend and in fact urge you all to subscribe to Rae’s newsletter . Her ability to weave the visceral feelings of personal experience with thoughtful, scientific analysis leaves me feeling whole, like my heart and brain just hugged and said "this is all insane but at least we've got each other.
Here’s a quick overview:
On mysterious women's diseases, work culture, mothering, and the struggle to stop yearning for wealth and power. Honest, unflinching essays and interviews from a chronically ill, ex-startup CEO searching for redemption.”
So go subscribe (http://innerworkings.substack.com)and come back here and listen to the audio ok? Ok.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit botharetrue.substack.com/subscribe (https://botharetrue.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)
19 Oct 2023
The self is a gut-hole - the first podcast ever made
Hello, how are you and, if I may be so bold — what’s this? We’ve got BREAKING NEWS that former Radioshack employee and current media mogul Alex Dobrenko has just dropped a public episode of his new podcast Are Both True? onto the internet.
*puts finger up to ear and listens really close*
Yes, I am being told that the audio has been sent directly to us at Both Are True (no affiliation) with a little note that says “play this on the air.”
Well now THIS is something new, isn’t it Ron?
Ron: Now that’s the understatement of the year Suzy. Won’t be needing my second cup of coffee this morning after this absolutely electric bit of news!!
Suzy: Ok folks, well here’s the audio have a listen and enjoy.
CUT
Suzy: What the f**k Ron?
Ron: What?
Suzy: Stop talking about coffee on the air.
Ron: What?
Suzy: Every day you bring coffee into the segment and then promote Ron’s Robes and Roasters -
Ron: “The only place you can buy a hot cup of joe AND the robe to go with it.”
Suzy: " - and the robe to go with it.”
Ron: It’s a great tagline.
Suzy: No one wants to buy robes and coffee together Ron.
Ron: *stares dead into the camera* Not with that attitude.
I’ll be doing most of these audio podcasts behind the paywall, so if you’d like to listen to them all AND read all the essays, participate in all the comment sections for paid subscribers, and tell your friends that you’re supporting a frankly unwell writer named Alex Dobrenko, become a paid subscriber TODAY:
Comments
* What do you think?
* What do you feel?
* Fav joke on the podcast today?
* Any topics you’d like me to discuss on future episodes of the podcast?
*
*
* Is Ron’s Robes and Roasters a hit or a mega hit?
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit botharetrue.substack.com/subscribe (https://botharetrue.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)
13 Oct 2023
introducing: are both true? (a podcast-ish podcast)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit botharetrue.substack.com (https://botharetrue.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7)
As you all know, I have been recording silly little audios (https://open.substack.com/pub/botharetrue/p/both-are-trues-next-chapter-big-deal?r=bvz1&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web) of BTS for Season One of BAT.
Well, the other day ONE single BATfan told me she didn’t love listening to it via her email. It stressed her out. And since I am really good at reading the room and making sound judgements based on a lot of different opinions, I decided i’ll MAKE IT A PODCAST.
So he…
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