WHAT ARE YOU MADE OF?: OUR CHAT WITH HASAN MINHAJ

Whether he’s up on stage or at home with family, Hasan Minhaj loves to make people laugh. He also loves bananas with almond butter, basketball games and a really good afternoon nap. We got to spend some time with the writer, world’s coolest dad and the first guy to star in our “What Are You Made Of?” campaign to discuss all those things, plus the best advice he’s ever received (which came from Jon Stewart, of course). So let’s get to know Hasan a little bit better, shall we?

Hi Hasan! How was the photo shoot?

It was really, really lovely and fun. The house was amazing. It was a lot cooler, a lot cleaner and a lot more picturesque than the house that I live in, so thank you for that.

Sounds like a great day. So tell us what made you excited to work with Madewell?

Chloe and Phoebe—I've always admired their work so much. They're so funny and creative and unique and singular in their voice and opinion of the world. I immediately knew being a part of this campaign would be really fun, interesting, quirky and creative.

And of course we have to ask about the clothes—how did they feel?

They felt really great. What I really liked about them is how comfortable they were. I felt put together without feeling stuffy or uncomfortable or stiff.

We love to hear it! Switching gears a little, what are some of the hard parts of your job, and on the flip side, what brings you the most joy?

The hardest part is the travel, the blur of going from city to city and late nights, early flights. And being away from family is really hard. The best part is the human connection I have with the audience—it's a beautiful thing. Being on stage makes me feel alive. I'm so lucky that I get to do it.

What a great answer. Okay, in the spirit of this campaign, we want to do a little lightning round of questions about what you’re made of. First up: what’s your favorite meal made of?

When I’m on tour, it’s bananas, crunchy almond butter, Honey Bunches of Oats cereal and oat milk. Sounds weird, but I want something that I can quickly eat that won't have me burping on stage. I know that's TMI.

No, that’s the perfect amount of TMI! What’s your best day made of?

A completely clear calendar, not waking up to the sounds of any screaming children and generally it would have three components: a great meal, a great nap and a great memory. A lot of people, they don't give enough credit to the afternoon nap. The afternoon nap is really key. It’s halftime for your day.

And what’s your greatest memory made of?

I think just laughter with my loved ones. When I see my daughter laughing, it's the best. When I make my mom laugh, or my wife laugh, it's just really great. Their laughter is so different than what I do in my day-to-day work. I know laughter is my entire industry, but their laughs are different because they know me so well. If I can make them laugh or create memories where we're all laughing together, that’s really special.