Overview of Tig Notaro Is Treading Water (Rich Roll Podcast)
Rich Roll interviews comedian, actor, writer and producer Tig Notaro. The conversation ranges widely — Tig’s 2012 health crisis and the legendary Largo set that “went viral,” her creative process and stand‑up craft, family and identity, recovery from spinal fusion, plant‑based nutrition and certification, producing the documentary Come See Me in the Good Light about poet Andrea Gibson, and the changing incentives and culture of comedy and podcasts. The episode mixes personal memoir, practical recovery advice (notably “treading water”), and reflections on career choices and creative integrity.
Guest background & current projects
- Tig Notaro — comedian known for deadpan standup, Netflix specials, a New York Times bestselling memoir, Grammy‑nominated work, actor (appears in Starfleet Academy / Star Trek universe), writer and filmmaker.
- Current/recent projects mentioned:
- Handsome — Tig’s podcast co‑hosted with Fortune Feimster and Mae Martin.
- Come See Me in the Good Light — documentary about poet Andrea Gibson (Apple TV premiere Nov 14).
- Recurring role on Starfleet Academy (new season filmed in Toronto).
- Past: HBO special and famed Largo performance that followed her 2012 health crisis.
Key topics discussed
- The 2012 crisis and the Largo set
- Tig’s four‑month period of pneumonia, C. diff, the death of her mother, a breakup, and then a breast cancer diagnosis.
- The Largo set where she opened with “Hello. I have cancer.” — recorded for This American Life and widely shared; it propelled her into wider attention during recovery.
- Creative process and standup craft
- Live testing is essential — standup relies on audience feedback.
- Tig’s low‑tech note habits (napkins → document) and iterative on‑stage writing.
- Collaboration and receiving feedback (e.g., Ira Glass story).
- Work‑life balance and priorities
- Tig intentionally reduced commitments (from series regular to recurring) to be present for family and reframe balance.
- The value of holding identity loosely: “I’m a comedian” but open to other roles (producer, director, parent).
- Comedy industry dynamics
- Concerns about algorithmic incentives pushing creators toward outrage, contrarian guests, or drama to gain eyeballs/dollars.
- Tension within comedy communities due to politicization and social fragmentation.
- Health, recovery and movement
- Rich Roll shares his spinal fusion recovery and return to activity; Tig discusses recovery mindset and athletics.
- Tig’s practical rehab strategy: treading water as full‑body, low‑impact conditioning that helped regain strength after fusion.
- Patience is essential: spinal fusion can take 12–18 months to fully set.
- Plant‑based nutrition
- Tig is plant‑based and holds a plant‑based nutrition certificate (T. Colin Campbell program); she emphasizes having a “North Star” reason to sustain dietary change and avoids preachiness.
- Producing the Andrea Gibson documentary
- Tig co‑produced; Andrea’s story (stage‑four ovarian cancer, poet and activist) was filmed and premiered at Sundance, where it received a strong reception; Andrea passed away July 14.
Notable quotes & moments
- Tig’s Largo opener: “Good evening. Hello. I have cancer. How are you?”
- Step‑father’s apology (Tig recounting): “It’s not the child’s responsibility to teach the parent who they are. It’s the parent’s responsibility to learn who their child is.”
- On patience and recovery (Rich): “The discipline to do less than you know you can when life is calling you to do that.”
- Tig on creative risk and recovery: she went on Conan shortly after surgery to reassure people — a tension between privacy and public attention.
- Treading water discovery: started at 15 minutes, built to an hour — became meditative, full‑body rehab.
Main takeaways & lessons
- Vulnerability can be powerful and catalytic. Tig’s raw Largo set connected because it was immediate, honest, and relatable.
- Creative work is iterative and communal — standup needs an audience to be refined; collaboration and feedback are core.
- Recovery and healing require patience and discipline to “do less” and protect long‑term outcomes; rushing often causes setbacks.
- Hold identity loosely. Success in one lane (standup) can coexist with a desire for normal family life, new creative roles, or different priorities.
- Algorithmic incentives can warp creative choices; creators need to decide whether to optimize for attention or for integrity and audience service.
- Practical wins can be small and specific: adopting a plant‑based diet with a clear personal “North Star,” or a simple exercise routine (treading water) that restores confidence and function.
Practical tips & action items from the episode
- If recovering from spinal surgery (or rehabbing generally):
- Prioritize patience — fusion/major recovery can take 12–18 months.
- Consider low‑impact, full‑body options like treading water (start 10–15 minutes and progress gradually).
- Avoid early high‑impact loading (e.g., heavy overhead lifting, running) until cleared by your surgeon/therapist.
- Build a consistent, slow foundation (strength, mobility, nutrition) rather than rushing performance goals.
- If exploring plant‑based eating:
- Find a personal “North Star” (health, ethics, environment) to sustain the habit.
- Be gentle with others — invite curiosity, don’t proselytize; let people experiment.
- For creatives:
- Test material live; use small notes to trigger ideas; transfer and iterate in a document.
- Guard against making decisions purely for algorithmic advantage — choose what serves your audience and your integrity.
- Collaborate and welcome constructive feedback — it often improves the work.
Where to watch / listen / read
- Rich Roll podcast episode with Tig Notaro — available on Rich Roll’s channels (audio + video).
- Tig’s podcast: Handsome (co‑hosted with Fortune Feimster & Mae Martin).
- Documentary: Come See Me in the Good Light — Apple TV premiere Nov 14.
- Tig’s other work: Netflix specials, One Mississippi, appearances in the Star Trek universe (Starfleet Academy), memoirs and HBO special.
Quick episode snapshot (for skimmers)
- Tone: candid, warm, wry — longform conversation blending memoir, craft and practical recovery advice.
- Length: full interview (long, in‑depth).
- Best for: fans of Tig Notaro, comedians, people interested in recovery after surgery, plant‑based nutrition, and creative process insights.
If you want the core practical nugget to try today: if cleared by your doctor, try a short treading‑water routine (start 10–15 minutes) as a low‑impact way to rebuild full‑body strength and confidence during spinal recovery.