Paul Scheer + Busy Philipps: Joyful Recollections of Trauma

Join us for an in-person event with actor, comedian and podcaster Paul Scheer for a discussion of his debut memoir Joyful Recollections of Trauma. Joining Paul in conversation is New York Times best-selling author, actor, activist and writer, Busy Philipps. This event will be hosted in the Strand Book Store's 3rd floor Rare Book Room at 828 Broadway on 12th Street.

Can’t make the event? Purchase a signed copy of Joyful Recollections of Trauma here.

STRAND IN-PERSON EVENT COVID-19 POLICY:

Masks and vaccination checks are not required for entry.* Attendees are welcome to wear a mask if they choose. If you do not have a mask and would like one, The Strand will provide masks at the door.

*Please note this is subject to change any time before or during the event per the author’s request.

ACCESSIBILITY:

Strand Book Store is an ADA compliant venue. The event space is accessible via elevator. Please ask a Strand employee upon arrival for directions to accessible seating if preferred.

ASL interpretation is available for this event by request only. Please reach out to our events team at events@strandbooks.com by May 9th to request.

For further information on accessibility in this space, or to make a request, please contact events@strandbooks.com

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From award-winning actor and comedian Paul Scheer, a candid and hilarious memoir-in-essays on coming to terms with childhood trauma and finding the joy in embracing your authentic self.

Paul Scheer has entertained countless fans and podcast listeners with stories about the odd, wild, and absurd details of his life. Yet these tales have pointed to deeper, difficult truths that the actor and comedian has kept to himself. Now, he is finally ready to share those truths for the first time—but, of course, with a healthy dose of humor.

Blending the confident, affable voice that has won him a dedicated following with a refreshing level of candor, Joyful Recollections of Trauma chronicles Paul’s often shocking, admittedly tumultuous childhood, and how the experiences of his youth have reverberated throughout his life. In his comedy, Paul has always been unafraid to “go there,” to play naïve, cringeworthy characters, imbuing them with disarming charm and humanity. That daring openness is on display in the pages of this memoir, but in true Paul fashion, it is also surprising, eye-opening, and side-splitting.

In this madcap journey through the inner working of his mind and creative process, Paul Scheer demonstrates once again that the truth is often stranger—and funnier—than fiction. Joyful Recollections of Trauma offers a unique perspective on universal themes: growing up, working through a challenging childhood, staying true to yourself, and finding success, fulfillment, and happiness in often strange and difficult circumstances. Throughout, Paul shares both hard-fought lessons and laughter that can be found in the darkest parts of life, and reminds us that what matters is not what you’ve been through but who you are becoming.

Paul Scheer is a Screen Actors’ Guild Award-winning comedian, actor, filmmaker, and podcaster known for his roles in The League, Black Monday, Fresh off the Boat, 30 Rock, and Veep. He also co-created and starred in Human Giant and NTSF:SD:SUV. He writes comics for Marvel and DC and can be heard on Big City Greens & Star Trek: Lower Decks. He hosts the popular and multi award winning podcasts How Did This Get Made? and Unspooled. He can next be seen in the upcoming Knuckles, mini series event on Paramount+ (April 26th). He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two sons.

Photo credit: Andrew Max Levy

Busy Philipps is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, activist and writer, and host of the new series, Busy This Week, which she executive produces with Caissie St. Onge and Michael Gleason.

Philipps is best known from her series of iconic television roles such as "Kim Kelly" on the beloved series, Freaks and Geeks, from Judd Apatow and Paul Feig; "Audrey Liddell" on Dawson’s Creek; and "Dr. Hope Bobeck" on ER. Philipps spent six seasons starring opposite Courteney Cox on the hit comedy Cougar Town for which she won the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Philipps can currently be seen on the critically acclaimed Netflix comedy series Girls5Eva, executive produced by Tina Fey and starring opposite Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry and Paula Pell.

Philipps will be returning as a late-night talk show host on the new series Busy This Week. Season 1 will premiere on May 8th on QVC+, with new episodes released weekly. The show will feature celebrity guest interviews and laugh-out-loud moments, in addition to personal stories and Philipps’ favorite curated shopping finds. This marks her return to late-night following her previous series, Busy Tonight, which ran on E! from 2018-2019, and was executive produced by Philipps with Tina Fey, and Caissie St. Onge.

In 2018, Philipps released a collection of humorous autobiographical essays in her book This Will Only Hurt A Little which was a New York Times best seller in its first week. The book offers unfiltered and candid stories and was published by Simon and Schuster’s Touchstone division.

In 2020, Philipps launched a podcast called Busy Philipps is Doing Her Best, with her creative partner, Caissie St. Onge. The show features conversations between the duo and their guests, who reflect on times in their lives when a setback led to better opportunities.

On the big screen, Philipps was most recently seen in Paramount’s feature adaptation of the Broadway hit Mean Girls: The Musical, in the iconic role of “Mrs. George” alongside Renee Rapp, Tina Fey and Jenna Fischer. She can be seen in the STX romantic comedy, I Feel Pretty, opposite Amy Schumer and Michelle Williams, and directed by Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein. She appeared in Joel Edgerton’s thriller The Gift, alongside Jason Bateman and Rebecca Hall. Additional film credits include: Kat Coiro’s A Case of You opposite Justin Long, Peter Dinklage and Sam Rockwell; Douglas McGrath’s, I Don’t Know How She Does It alongside Sarah Jessica Parker; Ken Kwapis’s He’s Just Not That Into You; Paul Weiland’s Made of Honor with Patrick Dempsey and Michelle Monaghan and the cult classic White Chicks with the Wayans Brothers.

In January 2024, Philipps was announced as the newest Artist Ambassador for the American Civil Liberties Union to advocate for reproductive freedom. This follows years of on-the-ground advocacy, from testifying before congress in 2019 on behalf of Planned Parenthood to working with the ACLU in states like Ohio in the successful ballot measure to protect reproductive freedom in the state’s constitution and calling on other artists and entertainers to join her in actions to protect bodily autonomy.

Philipps was born in Oak Park, Illinois and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona. She attended Loyola Marymount University and lived in Los Angeles until 2020. Philipps currently resides in New York City with her two daughters and her golden doodle Gina.