Louis C.K. on Writing His First Novel and Returning to Stage | 2 Bears, 1 Cave

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In this powerful and surprisingly emotional episode of 2 Bears 1 Cave, Tom Segura sits down with Louis C.K. to discuss his new novel Ingram, the creative process behind writing fiction, and the brutal emotional reality of loneliness and childhood struggle. Louis explains why he quit stand-up for over a year, how stepping away from the stage changed his life, and what ultimately pulled him back into comedy.

The conversation dives deep into fear, pain, trauma, comedy philosophy, empathy, war stories, emotional burnout, and why the darkest moments in life can shape the most powerful art. Tom reveals that reading Ingram made him cry, and Louis talks about the deeply disturbing next book he’s finishing—including a scene that shocked even him while writing it.

They also explore the controversial idea of “punching down” in comedy, the ethics of humor, and why Louis believes the funniest material comes from the messy truth of being human.

2 Bears, 1 Cave Ep. 316

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Chapters
00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:00 - Becoming A Novelist, Eastern Europe, & Russian Literature
00:05:12 - Quitting Stand Up & Daily Rituals
00:08:47 - Writing Ingram & Why Tom Teared Up
00:19:38 - Loneliness, Street Kids, & the Human Threshold for Empathy
00:34:27 - Trauma, War & Emotional Damage
00:39:17 - Coming Back to Stand-Up & Rebuilding Material
00:46:22 - Upsetting Audiences, Articulating Thoughts, & Punching Down
00:59:59 - Touring Burnout & The Future of Live Comedy
01:06:42 - Final Thoughts & Tom Praises Ingram