The James Altucher Show

318 - Paul Mecurio: Scary, But Not Impossible… Leaving the Job You Hate for the One You'd Love

Episode Summary

Wait! Before I say “comedian.” Let me tell you who Paul Mecurio really is. He’s a transformer. A true re-inventor. He started out at as a lawyer on Wall Street. Because it was logical. And he got used to making 2, 3… 4 million dollars a year...

Episode Notes

Wait! Before I say “comedian.” Let me tell you who Paul Mecurio really is. He’s a transformer. A true re-inventor. He started out at as a lawyer on Wall Street. Because it was logical. And he got used to making 2, 3… 4 million dollars a year (after bonuses vested). It was hard to give it up... at first.But he still made little efforts. And those efforts add up. Overtime Paul stopped taking notes in meetings. He wrote jokes instead.

And then one day he got a chance to meet Jay Leno. And he started living a double life. If the senior partners knew what he was doing, they wouldn’t tolerate it. He’d be out. Immediately.

This was a gamble. But it was worth it...

Show Notes:

Jay Leno

The Daily Show

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Stand up NY

Comedy Cellar

Paul Koestner - Louis CK’s cinematographer

The Hudlin brothers (Warrington Hudlin and Reginald Hudlin. Reginald wrote “Black Panther: Power,” directed “Marshall” and produced “Django Unchained.”)

Spike Lee (“25th Hour,” “He Got Game,” “Do The Right Thing,” “Malcolm X,” “She’s Gotta Have It”)

Albert Brooks (his movies include “Taxi Driver”, “Finding Nemo,” "Finding Dory,” “Twilight Zone: The Movie,” “Private Benjamin,” “A Most Violent Year,” and so many more)

Woody Allen (“Annie Hall,” “Manhattan,” “Love and Death,” “Bananas,”)

David Letterman

Robin Williams

Luna Lounge

Marc Maron

Blowin in the Wind by Bob Dylan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWwgrjjIMXA

Monologue: What Makes America Laugh Before Bed by Jon Macks

My interview with Jon Macks: Ep. 190: Jon Macks – The Gut Decision That Lasts A Lifetime

Jimmy Brogan (Jay Leno’s main writer)

Louis CK

Pete Holmes

Gary Gulman

Steve sweeney

Don Gavin

Movie: Chuck with Liev Schreiber

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