Comedians Byer and Zamata bring 'Best Friends' podcast to Boston stage

Audiences at the Wilbur in Boston will experience a live version of the 'Best Friends' podcast on Wednesday, Nov. 4. The show features comedians Nicole Byer and Sasheer Zamata, who have hosted the audio series since 2019. The performance is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., with tickets priced between $46 and $56.

The live event mirrors the podcast’s distinct format, which lacks standard introductions or structured openings. Zamata described the dynamic as joining a conversation already in progress. She noted that close friends do not ask how the day was but instead immediately share specific details, such as a car not starting, because they already know the context.

Byer added that their friendship is perpetually in motion. She explained that she might call Zamata to sing a song stuck in her head before addressing the reason for the call. This approach reflects a relationship that is always in the middle of life events rather than a formal catch-up session.

The two met in improv classes, with Byer insisting the year was 2008 and Zamata asserting it was 2009. They were paired in an all-woman show, and Byer became determined to form a friendship. Zamata recalled the dynamic as a plan of attack that scooped her up. Their professional paths intertwined through shared classes and auditions, leading to a close personal bond.

Zamata said the relationship felt different from others because she could spend a whole day with Byer and still want to talk to her at the end of the day. She described this capacity for sustained connection as special and rare. The pair launched their podcast in 2019, initially wondering if they had enough material to sustain long conversations.

Both women stated that the project allowed them to focus on friendship rather than romantic relationships, which they believe receive disproportionate attention in media. Byer argued that friendships are more important because friends are often the people people talk to about their romantic lives. She cited the new Spider-Man movie as an example of friendship being stronger than love.

The hosts address audience questions on the podcast, often receiving queries about maintaining long-distance relationships or navigating differences in life stages, such as one partner having children. They acknowledge they are not experts and recommend therapy for complex issues, but they believe their experience offers relevant insight. Zamata noted their relationship has evolved through periods of long distance, with Byer in Los Angeles and Zamata in New York, and through phases of working together and separately.

The duo operates with minimal preparation for their content. They do not save specific conversations for the show or pre-load topics. Byer described the process as turning on the microphones and sharing what comes out. She said planning a conversation with a best friend feels strange because there is always something in both of their minds. They write outlines together, with Byer producing the initial text and Zamata refining the details to make sense.