Talking Your Tech: Podcasting pays off for actor-comedian Jay Mohr

• 'Mohr's Stories' is among iTunes' most downloaded podcasts
• Audience averages 1 million downloads monthly
• Mohr's a little tech-challenged, but he knows his batteries

LOS ANGELES — Comedian Jay Mohr got tired of waiting around for acting work, so he decided to keep himself busy with a podcast. His "Mohr Stories" has become one of iTunes' most downloaded podcasts — attracting big names such as Charlie Sheen, Jay Leno and Rufus Wainwright. It averages 1 million downloads monthly and is also available as an app for Apple and Android devices. On the show, (not suitable for workplace listening) he generally interviews comedians and other celebrities.

The move has paid off for the actor, who is best known for his roles in Jerry McGuire and on Saturday Night Live. On Wednesday he starts a new gig as the midday host for Fox Sports Radio. And he co-stars in the upcoming film The Incredible Burt Wonderstone with Jim Carrey and Steve Carell.

Podcasting

Waiting for the phone to ring, "I realized I should do something with my time. I don't knit, and I hate golf. I have one discernible skill, and that's talking a lot," Mohr says. Now "podcasting is my favorite thing to do. I never had an answer before when people asked me, what's your favorite thing — acting, stand-up, TV, movies? Podcasting is the best because it's so personal."

Gear

MacBook Air, iPad, Zoom R16 audio recorder and Vic Firth headphones. Drilling way down, he says, "I have double-A batteries, triple-A's, and I like the C's. You can really throw them at a pitcher who's not doing a good job at a ballgame. Nine volts — that's top of the line bro'. That's my tech knowledge. You're talking to an ape."

How bad is he with tech?

"I wrote two books. I would e-mail my editor at Hyperion, and in the e-mail I would write for six hours and then hit send...not realizing that at any moment, if the Wi-Fi went out in the house, I just lost 40 pages."

Recording the podcast on an iPad was a no-go

"There were ghosts in the machine. Lots of odd sounds." He switched to the Zoom R16. "It's light; it's portable; and it fits in a backpack. I love it."

How podcasting affected his comedy career

"It's made my stand-up audiences larger and way more invested." The audience knows "all your secrets. They know all your best friends; they know all the arguments you've had. It's almost like a tiny book club, in a room with 1,200 people."

How tech has affected comedy

"Everything's become so PC. We have to watch what we say now, because people will record you saying things on your iPhone and put it out on the Net. The only real people with free speech anymore are the people who leave comments on the Net. The slogan of the 'Mohr Stories' podcast is put your name on it. You can tell me I suck, but I better see a first and last name."

Fake mustaches

"Mohr Stories" is produced by Fakemustache.com, a company named by Mohr's wife, actress Nikki Cox. "She's brilliant. She coined the name, and said when they come on your show, you'll hand them a fake mustache, take a picture of them with a fake mustache, and put up a slideshow of every guest that's ever been on the show with a fake mustache. ... We were way ahead of the fake-mustache curve."