John Oliver on The Ethics of Comedy, The Dalai Lama & Impacting Monica

Video Description

This week on Reclaiming, we sit down with comedian, writer, and host John Oliver for a candid and thoughtful conversation about comedy, shame, and the power of laughter. John reflects on his interview with Monica in 2019 for Last Week Tonight and how that moment became part of her reclaiming journey. They explore the ethical tightrope of making jokes in a world full of gray areas and how humor can be both a coping tool and a way to call power to account. John shares what really surprised him about interviewing the Dalai Lama and the unexpected way His Holiness threw him off balance. With wit and depth, he and Monica dig into the weight of public shame, the risk of accountability, and why, for John, getting into trouble might just be the point. (And they use the C Word quite a bit!) Watch more episodes of Reclaiming: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMJUnI6nPG8Em8EZyWhZ_C_2ZFS3T2hnO Connect with Monica: https://www.instagram.com/monica_lewinsky https://x.com/monicalewinsky https://www.facebook.com/MonicaLewinsky/ Connect with Wondery: Connect with Wondery https://instagram.com/wonderymedia https://tiktok.com/@wonderymedia https://facebook.com/wonderymedia https://x.com/wonderymedia About the show: If you’re interested in unexpected conversations that go uncharted places, are remotely self-aware and like to laugh, then please join me as I continue to find my public voice on Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky. (That’s me.) I will have honest, wide-ranging interviews with all kinds of people – recognizable names, regular folks, experts and friends – about what it means to reclaim what’s been lost or taken in the broadest sense. Every week, I’ll draw from my own unique experiences (like say, surviving a global scandal at 24 years old), and delve into the personal and often messy ways people find their way back to themselves. And because I love a good tangent, we’ll probably also touch on other stuff, too. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky premieres early and ad-free at https://wondery.com/shows/reclaiming-with-monica-lewinsky. Chapters: 00:00 John Oliver Likes Good Trouble 00:26 Exploring Multiverse Beliefs 01:45 Public Shaming Episode 05:04 The Impact of Humor 15:34 Social Justice and Journalism 22:35 The Dalai Lama Interview 27:12 Coping with Dark Times Through Humor 38:11 British Humor and Emotional Expression 41:58 Comedy as a Coping Mechanism 44:13 Path to Becoming a Comedian 56:09 Navigating Immigration and Patriotism 01:05 The John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant 01:08 Reclaiming Dignity Through Comedy #monicalewinsky #podcast #reclaim #reclaiming #reclaiming podcast #monica #lewinsky #monicalewinsky #clinton #inspire #Sophiabush #onetreehill #celebrity #chat