Ep. 1 : Andy Richter

Let’s Walk, Episode One: Andy Richter and the Work of Being Human

What happens when you step outside with someone whose job it is to make people laugh—but who’s also done the work to understand himself, his failures, his therapy, and his place in the world?

That’s what I found out when I took a walk with Andy Richter.

You probably know Andy from his years as Conan O’Brien’s sidekick. Or maybe as the voice of Mort in Madagascar, or from his appearances in Arrested Development, 30 Rock, or Blades of Glory. But walking with Andy reveals something deeper: not just a funny man, but a thoughtful one—smart, tender, self-aware, and sometimes brutally honest.

We talked about success and how strangely empty it can feel. Andy said, “The more successful I became, the unhappier I became.” Not because success is bad—but because it doesn’t fix what’s broken inside. He spoke openly about therapy, divorce, reinvention, and the difference between being a creator and being a collaborator. He’s the kind of person who doesn’t just want to be in the spotlight—he wants to be part of something that matters.

He said he doesn’t like being on stage alone. He doesn’t live for applause. He lives for the moment he can make the cameraman laugh. That’s who Andy Richter is.

We talked about how hard it is to work in entertainment right now. About how the system feels broken—where everyone’s waiting by the phone for jobs that may never come. But we also talked about joy. About making dinner. About cats. About the beauty of creative community. And about what it feels like when someone finally gives you permission to be yourself—and you believe them.

This was the first official episode of Let’s Walk and I couldn’t have asked for a better companion. Andy showed up fully—witty, wise, vulnerable, and real. And it reminded me why I started this show in the first place.

We all need a walk sometimes. A change of scenery. A new perspective. Someone to listen. Someone to say: “Yeah, me too.”