In this flavorful and insightful episode of the Personal Pizza Podcast, host Simcha Levenberg sits down with his friend Gerry Katzman — stand-up comedian, teacher, and deep thinker — for a wide-ranging conversation that’s equal parts heart and humor.
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eGY8qO3eqhY
The two reflect on their shared love of pizza, starting with the grandma pie they baked together, and spiral into deeper topics like life lessons from therapy, the role of comedy as a healing force, and how laughter can crack open pathways to growth. Gerry opens up about his journey as both a performer and teacher, sharing how he helps others uncover joy and meaning through humor.
Together, they unpack the pros and cons of large group awareness training like Landmark, and Gerry offers his honest take as someone who’s been through it. He also shares his unique approach to therapy, blending stand-up smarts with tools inspired by Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help others navigate their inner worlds with more compassion and clarity.
From fatherhood to funny bones, personal development to pizza dough, this episode covers a rich spread. They wrap up with a tasting session and feedback on their homemade pie — a delicious metaphor for growth, collaboration, and the kind of environment Gerry believes comedy (and life) thrives in: supportive, kind, and real.
👉 Subscribe now and take a bite out of the most fascinating topics on mind, body, and soul. This is just the beginning.
Simcha Levenberg (https://slevenberg.com/) is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California. He uses a unique blend of humor, authenticity and real world knowledge. Simcha helps individuals clarify their personal values and live a present and more meaningful life. He helps couples transform their relationships to be more open and emotionally flexible.
This show is Produced by Rainbow Creative with Matthew Jones as Executive Producer, Producer Rithu Jagannath, & Editor Jeremiah Schultz. To learn more about how to make a podcast for you and your business, visit
rainbowcreative.co What is The Personal Pizza Podcast?
The Personal Pizza Podcast is a deliciously different podcast that merges clinical psychology, comedy, and pizza. Simcha Levenberg, a unique therapist with a love for baking pizza, invites guests to his home for a slice of pizza and a slice of life.
Each episode dives into a variety of topics that affect our mental health: cooking and emotional well-being, loneliness, psychedelics and metabolizing trauma (or not), large group awareness trainings, complicated bereavement, spiritual traps, and the complicated relationships we have with others (and ourselves) - while simultaneously crafting and sharing some fantastic homemade pizza.
This show is more than just food for thought – we are breaking bread to build connections. Mental health professionals, comedians, writers, and chefs sit around the table, making sense of confusing relationships, finding humor in unexpected places, and discovering the wisdom in our shared human experiences.
Come for the pizza, stay for the insights. Therapy is better with pizza, trust me.