Host Michael Harren interviews Emmy-winning Daily Show writer Matt Koff about his comedy special "Cat Man," exploring cultural perceptions of men with cats and the creative process behind his work.
20 Apr 2026
MikeyPod 360 | Writer and Performer Mike Albo
Thank you to everyone who’s stuck around while I find my rhythm again with this podcast. And what a conversation to come back with! I got to talk with writer and performer Mike Albo about his new audiobook, Hologram Boyfriends: Sex, Love and Overconnection, out now on Macmillan Audio. We got into desire as an energy — where it lives, how it’s changed since the smartphone made it portable — and what it’s been like to watch gay men shift from pariahs to culturally marketable, which Mike describes as a kind of whiplash. We also talked about the live performance pieces woven into the audiobook and how they came together at the Parkside Lounge.
Mike Albo is a writer and performer whose novels include Hornito, The Underminer, and Another Dimension of Us, alongside the memoirette Spermhood and the novella The Junket. He’s written for The New Yorker, New York Magazine, GQ, and TED, and was the Critical Shopper columnist for the New York Times. His solo shows have toured the US, Canada, and the UK.
There’s a bonus conversation with Mike dropping Wednesday for Patreon subscribers — we get into his writing process, which surprised me so much it came up in my therapy session that week. Find it here on my Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/michaelharren).
Connect with Mike:
Website (https://mikealbo.net)
Substack (https://mikealbo.substack.com)
Photo of Mike Albo by Eric McNatt
The video version of this podcast can be found on my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@michael_harren).
19 Jan 2026
MikeyPod 359 | Finance Creator Leila Kartforosh
I loved talking with finance creator Leila Kartforosh for this weeks episode! Leila is a microbiologist turned financial coach and content creator who also happens to be my very own financial coach, too. We talk about her transition to self-employment, the significance of authenticity in her YouTube videos, and the surprising evolution of her relationship with money.
Leila Kartforosh is a personal finance coach and content creator behind the brand Personal Finance with Leila – Debt Over It. After spending five years paying off over $82,000 of her own debt, she left her corporate career to help others get clarity and control with their money. She shares simple, practical, judgment-free strategies on budgeting, debt payoff, and wealth building through YouTube and one-on-one coaching. Outside of finance, Leila loves reading and staying active in the gym!
Connect with Leila:
YouTube channel (https://debtoverit.com/coaching/)
Website (https://debtoverit.com/coaching/)
A video version of this interview can be found on my YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwllfgdBm6nw4_JvSn4cRM2OMyHxu53vw&si=tcoWgWjnTDJ0Ior2).
This podcast is powered by my subscribers on Patreon who receive bonus episodes for this show, among other perks. Learn more at patreon.com/michaelharren
Inside a recent episode
MikeyPod 361 | Comedian Matt Koff
Published 10 Jun 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] Welcome. Thanks for joining me today. Hi, Michael. Thank you for having me. Your backdrop is great. I can't believe I haven't talked about this yet. I love that you're outside for this. This is like the first nice day. So I was like, how can I not record outside? Yeah, it is so nice today. We're both in Brooklyn, which is also exciting. Yeah, yes. It's the place to be. The show, Catman, I've been watching it today, so I'm feeling like this is just an extension of the show, talking to you. It's my first special. I've done an album, but this is my first comedy special, and it's essentially just a full-length stand-up special where I just talk about cats primarily, and also being a cat man, dating as a cat man, getting divorced as a cat man, and also a little bit about my time writing at The Daily Show and being a game show writer. […]
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