Bo Burnham Talks About His Anxiety Toward Performing on Stage

Bo Burnham talks about experiencing panic attacks while performing on stage and his journey exploring the origin of his anxiety.

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[DEVN]

Holy shit you can just see how quick he's thinking; constantly interrupting his thought for another, slipping over his words from saying so much, revising his phrasings immediately, all in the effort to concisely communicate his points.

It's incredibly interesting to watch.

[TheBizzle]

One of the most unique things about Bo is that he actually listened to his younger female fans, and believed them. Men trusting women, especially young women, when they recount their lived experiences is extremely rare. And he does so, seemingly, with ease and compassion. He's a very interesting person.

[DanielVerberne]

The funny thing about hearing Bo talk about anxiety is that on stage he seems utterly in control, utterly confident.

[AndrewClancyAKAPropheticOnion]

I have such respect for Bo Burnham--- he seems uniquely articulate, and it's evident that his intelligence comes directly from honest self-examination.

[a.y.]

I love when he addresses his anxiety bc he’s actually self aware and very smart and communicates it in a way for people to understand at a time when mental health is so important to understand. The world needs more celebs like bo

[andobise]

"I don't believe that my anxiety is special at all."
It's a relieving realization and a terrifying one.
"I'm tired of all the pain I feel and hear in the world every day. There's too much of it. It's like pieces of glass in my head, all the time."

[fangirlfortheages]

I want bo to write a book. I would read everything he has to say

[josearagaojr.]

"And then... The funniest thing happened."

Here after his netflix special "Inside". What a fucking brilliant work. Funny, dark and disturbingly personal. Few times have I been so completely absorbed by an artwork like this. It was like watching someone ripping themselves open in audiovisual form.

[awesomecassiejean]

His voice is so DEEP here... I almost wasn't sure it was him for a moment

[primarypenguin]

It's really interesting how he talks about anxiety as a product of fragility and the need for adoration. I guess it's kind of obvious but I never thought about it that way. Like maybe we feel anxious because we are afraid to let a reality creep in where we aren't exactly what we think we are

[damongamer]

God he's only had 10 panic attacks 9 being on stage I don't blame him for retiring

[Idefilms]

As an avid fan of Bo, I've heard him tell this story/talk about his experience many times. But I never get tired of hearing it, maybe because we all need these lessons for ourselves and/or the people in our life.

[marinecombatvet]

This is one of the most intelligent and articulate young men I have ever heard speak--and I've heard many. Bo Burnham is truly amazing human, and we are fortunate to have his views and opinions shared with us.

[MUKI]

I'll put my hands up and get out of my seat for you Bo. The water's fine.

[LanesClassicComedy]

Bruh, you need to start uploading longer clips, all the late night shows are doing it now. The recommendation algorithm on YouTube favors videos longer than 10 minutes. You've got the best celebrity interviews in the game, you should be getting way more views and subscribers on here. Just release one long clip instead of 3 or something. Your channel would blow up. These interviews are so well conducted, so sincere, and so fascinating. They deserve to reach a much, much wider audience on YouTube.

[PatrickShartzer]

This has a whole new light after watching Inside

[kludgybrains]

I've had that realization, in a way, before. That it's arrogant to be so worried about what others think about you as if they think about you as intensely as you critique yourself.

[THE_BEAR_JEW]

I'm a first year attorney and I've always had anxiety. I can write all day, but going into court, I have to clear my head and calm myself down every single time. I knew it would be like this, and I still love my job, but boy do I wish I didn't have anxiety. It's a horrible feeling.

[CarlsCozyCorner]

Man, he has the voice of chocolate and caramel.

[patriciascott]

I saw BO at both his Edinburgh festival shows in 2010 and 202 and to know now he was going through this at the time is just heartbreaking. He is such a damn inspiration. I love everything this man does