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Mishu Hilmy: This episode will make you smarter
Description
Ilse sits down with comedian, writer, filmmaker, and professional vocabulary flexer Mishu Hilmy for a conversation that starts in comedy craft and somehow ends in ghosts, dreams, and the psychology of “enough.”
They talk about why timing and silence are the secret sauce of a joke, why making art in 2026 can feel like chasing relevance across seventeen streaming platforms, and how strategy can turn into a very convincing form of procrastination.
Mishu breaks down the economics of film success in a way that’s both mildly terrifying and weirdly freeing, then gets into the themes that keep showing up in his work (being stuck, breaking through, and trying not to spiral).
There’s also a perfectly dumb ghost-photo story involving a burnt log, plus a dream that still feels like astral projection, and a surprisingly tender take on what “home” actually is. Follow Mishu and check out Mischief and Mastery for more brain-expanding artist talk.
Hosted by Ilse Zacharias Rivera. Say hi / follow along here: @ilsezacharias
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Thank you to our sponsor, Mezcla Media Collective. Please follow them on Instagram @mezclamediacollective and join the community at mezclamediacollective.org
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Ilse Will Say is an Intrepida Entertainment podcast, hosted by Ilse Zacharias Rivera. Produced and edited by Jacob Cagle. Music by Eric Backus. Photography by Joel Maisonet.
The views and opinions expressed on Ilse Will Say are entirely those of the host and guests, and do not reflect the views of any employers, sponsors, or innocent bystanders. This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Nothing said here is professional advice. We're here for the laughs, y'all.