There is an adage that says, “write what you know.” It’s not an absolute. Plenty of people write about things they don’t necessarily “know.” That said, it does help. You don’t have to take it literally. You can write a story about space alien kids, but you make one of the kids have eczema and glasses and get made fun of constantly, and boom, you’re writing about what you know (in my case, at least). If you’re Jason Segel, you write about getting dumped while naked.

Segel stopped by Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend this week to talk about his new show Shrinking. While there, Segel was asked about his breakout hit Forgetting Sarah Marshall. In that film, Segel is dumped while naked and proceeds to find himself in several romantically comedic situations. While parts of the movie were fictional, Segel really was dumped while naked. The story is excruciating.

It’s good that Segel has such a good attitude toward the story because it is rough. It probably helps that he has since turned it into a very successful film. I am reminded of something Harry Shearer once said on WTF with Marc Maron (which Marc brings up constantly). Shearer claimed that people get into comedy to control why people laugh at them. Given this story and how Segel felt unliked as an adolescent (and still now), that saying makes a lot of sense.

I’m glad Segel was able to turn his embarrassment into success. That is a purple dragon that many seek and few acquire. Maybe we all just need more embarrassing stories? Feel free to share yours! No one will turn it into a hit movie starring Kristen Bell and Russell Brand… I swear.