Episode 34

Cool Cool Cool

Published on: 22nd April, 2024

Join host Erika Audrey on an inspiring journey through the creative process with special guest comedian Mark Kendall on this episode of Clover Club.

In this candid and engaging discussion, Erika and Mark delve into the essence of creativity, exploring how authenticity and humor play pivotal roles in the creative journey. From the sparks of inspiration to the grind of refining ideas, they share personal insights and anecdotes that illuminate the path of creation.

Discover the power of showing up authentically and embracing humor as a catalyst for innovation and connection. Whether you're an artist, writer, or simply curious about the creative process, this episode offers invaluable perspectives to inspire and uplift.

Tune in as Erika and Mark unpack their own approaches to creativity, offering practical tips and encouragement for anyone seeking to tap into their creative potential. Prepare to be inspired, entertained, and motivated to infuse more creativity into your life.

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Check out Cool Cool Cool productions here

Shop Hawkins & Clover here

Transcript
Speaker:

Welcome to clever club, a podcast

about curious conversations and stories

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intended to make you laugh and learn.

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I'm your host, Erica.

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And today I'm elated to be joined

by my friend, mark Kendall mark.

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Hi.

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Hello.

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How are you?

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I'm really good.

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Thanks for having me.

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I'm thank you for coming.

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You.

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You know, you were one of the first people

that I've reached out to where I was like,

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he's not going to say yes to this, but

I need to just, I just am going to ask.

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I would also say I would

absolutely say yes, no.

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Very cool.

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Yes.

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You didn't just say yes.

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You said he asked him like

the most flattering way.

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You're like, oh, I like listen to it.

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Like, yeah.

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I was blown away.

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I enjoy the podcast.

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It's really nice.

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I, , you know, I love

the variety of guests.

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You have.

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I love the vulnerability of the stories

like from yourself and the other people.

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You know, people like

share their experiences.

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You know about like

successes and failures.

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Yeah.

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You know, I just really,

I really appreciate it.

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Well, I appreciate you.

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Appreciate it.

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So this is, this is a huge honor

for me to have you in the studio.

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, Typically mark.

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When I have people on the show that

I have mutual friends with and mark

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and I I'll give a tiny backstory.

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You were my improv teacher, like.

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Eight years ago for a hot minute.

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, and so we just kind of, we overlap

in the comedy circle a little, but we

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do have a handful of mutual friends.

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And so I've reached out to

people and I'm like, Hey, I'm

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recording with market Kendall.

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You have any crazy stories, any fun facts?

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Anything that can add to this interview.

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And the consistent

response from everybody.

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It was a, oh my God.

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We love mark.

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But also like you seem to be the most

unproblematic human being in the world.

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Like everyone's like, we don't

know actually anything about.

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Like he is just always nice.

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Always present.

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And like, I got no dirt.

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I got no dirt on you.

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So, I guess.

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Are you surprised to hear that?

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Uh, I don't know.

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There's definitely, there's

definitely dirt out there.

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I'm.

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Yeah.

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Yeah.

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Okay.

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Well maybe.

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I need to do more.

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Where reconnaissance work.

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, but I guess like, do you go out of

your way to garner a good reputation

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or is, I mean that, like, I feel

like everything people said about

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you behind your back with lovely.

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This is what everybody would

want people to say about that.

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If they weren't in the room, you know?

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Oh yeah, no, I mean, I try to have

like positive interactions with folks.

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Uh, so I try to do that.

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Yeah.

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Uh, but beyond that, you know, not really.

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Just naturally fabulous.

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I just try, I just try to have

positive exchanges with folks.

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I remember when I was younger.

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, someone said something along the lines

of like, you know, you can, you know,

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make someone's day better or worse.

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And it's not like I necessarily go into

an interaction thinking like I'm going

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to make the day better or worse, but

it's just like, I don't want to make

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someone's day worse if I can help it.

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Yeah.

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Maybe that's in the back

of my mind a little bit.

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Yeah.

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That, that took root.

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I think that's a great way.

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Like I'm just going to not make the

world worse as I go out into it.

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I still do something.

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But like, yeah, I'm

going to try to try to.

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That's totally fair.

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, do you ever have bad days?

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Absolutely.

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Yeah.

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Yeah, definitely a bad days.

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I think.

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, uh, you know, I, I enjoy

doing morning pages.

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Have you ever done the artist's way?

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I haven't done the artist's

way, but I'm familiar.

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And I've been here with morning pages.

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Yeah.

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So it's like quick

description of artist's way.

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It's this workbook, basically.

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It's like a 12 week workbook where

you do creative exercises and read

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about creativity just in general.

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I did it maybe over 10

years at this point.

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Oh, I thought it was really beneficial.

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Yeah.

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One of the aspects of the artist's

way is you journal every morning

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for about like three pages.

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Okay.

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And so I don't necessarily

do it every day, but I have

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moments when I do do it a lot.

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And I found that it's just really helpful

just in terms of getting thoughts out and

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processing feelings and things like that.

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So that's definitely

one of the things that.

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I like, like to go to, if

I'm having like a bad day.

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And also like, , You know, creative

when I'm being creative, when

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I'm being creative with other

people that that helps a lot.

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It helps a lot.

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Yeah.

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That makes a lot of sense.

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And.

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You're coming about being

creative with other people.

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That's such a skill.

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And I learned throughout my, I had

probably like two years where I

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was like deeply dabbling in improv.

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And I learned I'm not good at

being creative with other people.

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And I was like, I think I should be

doing standup instead because I'm just

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like, not good at improv because I,

uh, I just, I think I'm naturally,

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literally not good at it cause I'm like

too controlling and I just try to fill

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in gaps, which is the opposite that

you're supposed to like, I don't know.

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, so are you naturally really good

at being collaborative or did you

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learn to be better through improv?

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You know, not, not necessarily.

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Yeah.

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I think that, you know, I'm more

naturally tend towards something

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like stand up things like that.

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And also too.

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I mean, like, you know,

I saw your improv class.

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You're not bad at improv.

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Very funny and, you know, I think.

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The other thing too, like when it

comes to doing something that you're

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doing as a group, no one's ever going

to contribute in the exact same way.

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And so the way I kind of see

it is like, all right, there

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might be some things that.

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Uh, you know, in the moment you look back.

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Or you look back and you're like,

oh, that didn't help the improv show.

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But also, it's just like, that's the

offer that you made, whatever that is.

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Yeah.

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Yeah.

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So like in a perfect situation,

like, like in an idealized version

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of improv, it's like, whatever you

happen to bring is what you bring.

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And that's great.

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You.

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You know, so.

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All that to say is like,

I think I personally.

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Veer more towards, you know,

solo performance, solo,

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creative projects as well.

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But I like how I have to maybe

more for change in order to

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collaborate with other people.

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Yeah.

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Even if it's just being like an audience

member, you know, that makes sense.

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That makes a lot of sense.

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So, did you get your start?

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Well, let me even back up from there,

like how did you get into comedy?

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Yeah.

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Yeah.

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Um, in college.

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Yeah.

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So, , in college I was a film

major and, you know, I was really

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into like, You know, writing

and directing and making films.

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Like I read spike spike.

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Lee had like these books.

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Uh, I don't remember these books.

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He did.

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So like, But like his first five films.

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Uh, he had like a companion

book that would come out.

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Sounds familiar.

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Yeah.

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And so it had like a journal that

he kept, it had the script and

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he was basically trying to like

demystify the filmmaking process.

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It was sort of like, it was like

director's commentary before

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DVDs and blue Ray were an option.

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That's awesome.

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That was like, man, filmmaking

is a processing, so cool.

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And I was getting really into that.

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So.

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In college, I'm a film major.

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And, , I wanted to get

experienced with equipment.

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, and there was a sketch group on

campus and YouTube was maybe just out.

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Like just like I'm dating myself.

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Maybe it was like brand new.

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So this sketch group, it was a video

sketch group, but they wouldn't

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even put their stuff on YouTube.

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It's like they would shoot stuff.

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And then at the end of the semester,

they'd have a show where they play

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video sketches for their friends.

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And that was kind of it.

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, so I was like, oh, great.

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I'll be a crew member for this.

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So I like on the weekends, I like hold

booms or put up lights and it was great.

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Okay.

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Uh, but another part of being

in the group is that every week

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they'd have writers meetings.

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So there's a writing team and an acting

team, and they would read these sketches

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and the crew would listen to the sketches.

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And then you give feedback event.

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It was like a really cool process.

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This is, this is fun., and then at around

that same time at the end of my freshman

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year, Comedy central had this program.

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It was start by Chris rock was called

the comedy central summer school.

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And it was an opportunity for

writers of color to spend the summer

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at comedy central in New York.

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And they would just kind of like

rotate you through departments.

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To expose you to different types

of jobs you could have as a writer.

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And I think it was partly inspired

by the fact that like when

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Chris rock was on us and now.

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I don't think there

were any black writers.

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So like experience of him

getting material on was like much

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different deal than other people.

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As I'm sure it was for like a bunch

of other groups that weren't like

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properly represented on the show.

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Yeah.

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So that was him and comedy central, trying

to like create ways to address that.

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Yeah.

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Uh, so, so that was freshman

year and I was like, oh, this

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is cool because it's like, this

is an internship that would pay.

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And, uh, they'd cover my

housing, all that kind of stuff.

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Uh, so I applied and I did not

have like prior comedic experience.

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I'm not like a class clown type

or anything like that, but I, I

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wrote sketches for the first time.

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And.

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And sent in an application and

I didn't get in, but they left.

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Like a very nice.

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It was a complete failure,

but I've got a great about it.

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Because I tried really

hard on that application.

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Beautiful.

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I didn't get in, but they

left a very encouraging email.

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Like we liked your, we liked

your application and we'd

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love for you to apply again.

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So I literally, I kept that voicemail

in my phone, like the whole year.

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And occasionally I listened to it, like.

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You know, they really

liked my application.

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I'm going to.

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Yeah.

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So then the next year.

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The next year.

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I submit again and, uh, and

this time the east coast.

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Director of development caught me up

because he was a Northwestern alum.

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Okay.

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I didn't get in the second year either.

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Did you go to Northwestern?

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Oh yeah, I did.

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Yeah.

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Yeah.

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Those are the ones about.

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No, but random.

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So

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we went to the same school.

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That's why he called me up.

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And so.

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And, uh, and he's like, yo, I like your

stuff or whatever, but it's not really.

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You're not gonna like get

to the next level with this.

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And he sat on the phone with me.

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And, when you work in development,

you're the person that's kinda

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like deciding what scripts.

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You know, go from being

scripts to becoming TV shows.

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So you're like developing it.

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So this person.

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Is an expert on reading and understanding.

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Matches.

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What's funny, but what's also

a fit for comedy central.

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So he read my samples, which is wild

and kind of like walked me through them.

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And, , at the time I thought

my samples were great.

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Cause it's just like, My

friends thought they were funny.

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And he's just like, that's cool, but you

need to make a stranger laugh really hard.

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Yeah.

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I'm reading the words on the page and

I'm like, I really took that to heart.

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That's a good tip.

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Yeah.

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Yeah, it was really great.

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Tip.

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And so then I sort of I remember that.

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And so then I applied to

third year and I got in and.

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Yeah.

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I was like, oh, fantastic.

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And , so I spent the summer in

New York and so you'd rotate

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through different departments.

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So you spent time in the development

department so that, uh, Northwestern

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alum, I got to work in his

department for a couple of weeks.

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Uh, and then they had a blog back then.

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So I got to like be at the

blog for a little while and

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I wrote a blog post for them.

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, I was in there on, off air

promotions, so I got to pitch like.

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Ideas to them, but the CRA.

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The fun part of the program was I got

to spend a week shadowing the writers

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at the daily show with Jon Stewart.

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And then I got to spend a

week, , shadowing the riders

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at the Colbert report.

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Wow.

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What that meant was I wasn't really

liking coffee or anything like that.

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I'd show up, I'd go to

all the writer's meetings.

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And then if I felt like,

and I'd pitch a joke or two.

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And, , it was a really eyeopening

experience because up until that point,

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you know, I've been a crew person.

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I had written stuff, but I'd

never been in a room where

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you're pitching jokes verbally.

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I'd always like been off in my own dorm

room, writing a script to myself and then.

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Shooting at myself or turning it in.

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What's different about these TV writers'

rooms or at least how they worked.

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In those rooms is like, , you are off

on a, on a computer writing stuff, but

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there are moments when you're pitching

concepts, you're pitching jokes.

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And what I had to learn to get better

at was one, like just pitching out loud

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in a room because I was not a performer.

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, and also, you know, you might write

something that reads funny, but can

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you give someone a line that they

then say later that evening out loud

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to an audience that's in their voice.

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That's also funny.

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So it's like a different skill kinda sure.

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And, um, and so that was

a great experience, like

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learning what that looked like.

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Uh, and, , one thing that was like a

really big confidence builder for me.

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Was at the Colbert report.

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I pitched a joke in a version

of that Roundup on the show.

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So like Cole bear said like a

joke that like started as my idea.

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And I was like, oh my gosh.

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And all the writers were very kind

and encouraging like, oh, good job.

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You know?

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And, you know, I really dug the vibe

of the Colbert report writer's room.

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And what I found out was that like a lot

of them were improvisers from Chicago.

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And I was going to college

in a suburb of Chicago.

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So a lot of those writers also went

to the school that I had gone to.

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. And they're like you should, , when

you go back to school, Try

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some improv, try some standup.

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Those are the things

that will help you pitch.

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So, because what I was observing was

like, You know, you go into the office

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each day with these writers, they'd

pitched these brilliant jokes and then

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they would then go to the clubs at

night and then do their own materials.

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So I started to follow them doing that.

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I'm like, oh, okay.

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This makes sense.

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They're not just writers.

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They're brilliant performers in their own.

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Right.

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Nearly all of them, even if they

weren't like performers, they had

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some kind of performance experience.

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So I'm like, okay, this is something I,

if I want to write, this is something

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that I need to learn, how to do.

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If I want to write in

these kinds of spaces.

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And so, uh, my roommate during that

summer, who was also part of the

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program, He was already a standup.

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So he was like going out each night.

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So I started following him and I went

up and did my first stand-up open mic.

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It was like in the

basement of this taco spot.

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And it didn't go good, but it's just

like, what I found was like, oh,

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like speaking in front of people

that doesn't really make me nervous.

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I didn't do that.

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Gray eye.

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You know, I was fine.

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So I'm like, oh, okay.

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I can do this.

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And I think also a certain

level of pressure was removed.

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'cause I'm like, I'm not

trying to be a standup.

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I'm just trying to do this.

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To get better at writing.

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So there was like a layer removed, whereas

it, maybe it would be a lot different if

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my whole life I'm like, oh gosh, I want

to be like Richard Pryor, Steve Martin.

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And I got to make this work you're

bad for a really long time, you know?

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So it's like, I can see

how that could maybe.

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Be a tougher thing, but, but to

me, I'm just like, I'm just trying

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to learn, write jokes, you know?

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Yeah.

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So there was a lot that

was removed from that.

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, and so then when I came back, To school

for my senior year, I started going

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to open mics for stand up on occasion.

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I took my first improv class while also

still, you know, riding and making stuff.

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So.

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That's kind of how comedy

kind of came about.

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And I think the other thing too was, you

know, Being in film school at the time

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you watch a lot of student films and.

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At least when I was in film school.

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What I appreciated

about the comedy comedy.

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Uh, once it was like, if something was

meant to be funny, like the audience

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would either laugh or they wouldn't.

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Yeah, but for other films, you know,

you're trying to make like a historical

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drama, but on like a $250 budget, it

was kind of hard to determine, like, I

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don't know, like your dorm room doesn't

look like:

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So.

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So if that makes any sense.

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So what I appreciate about comedy

was that like, oh, I like it where

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it's like, you try to make the

audience have a certain reaction.

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And they either do what they don't.

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And then you kind of go

back to the drawing board.

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If you didn't get what you wanted.

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Um, and so that's the long story.

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I love that story.

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That's super, super cool.

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Yeah.

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, are there any people that were in those

writer rooms that have now gone on to

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have big kind of individual careers?

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Yeah.

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Yeah.

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So like, Uh, at the daily show when I

was there, it was like, why it's an X,

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like first week or something like that.

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Are you like just got there.

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And so he went on to be like

a great correspondent and

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then did a bunch of stuff.

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Uh, John Oliver was a

correspondent at the time.

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And as well as in the writer's room.

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And I remember like the first or second

day at the daily show, there was like one

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of those like office basketball goals.

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And like, he was just very nice.

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Like I remember like, he's like, I

forget how it started because I want

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to play horse or something like that.

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And like we played horse on

the thing and I lost and I

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was going to pay him 10 bucks.

417

:

Like I can't take your money.

418

:

That's true.

419

:

They shouldn't be taking my money.

420

:

Um, , Oh, and, , also during the program,

, we'd go to like comedy central events too.

421

:

So comedy central had like a lot

of standup shows around town.

422

:

So it was, uh, so that summer I saw Bo

Burnham when he liked just moved to New

423

:

York, he was maybe like 19 at the time.

424

:

Oh my God.

425

:

He may have still been like

in school or something.

426

:

Yeah.

427

:

, I saw Hannibal Burris

before I'd seen them on TV.

428

:

I think maybe before each shown up on TV.

429

:

, Amy Schumer was still like very, very new.

430

:

So like, you'd go see these people

at the show and then they'd still

431

:

just be hanging out after the show.

432

:

And you would just be talking to them.

433

:

So I saw, like I saw Mike Birbiglia

for the first time that summer.

434

:

Just a bunch of people.

435

:

Yeah.

436

:

It was really, it was really nice.

437

:

Yeah.

438

:

I feel like when I hear stories like this.

439

:

It's like we more

cutthroat and I love that.

440

:

You're like, oh, I had a lovely

experience and everybody was

441

:

really uplifting and kind yeah.

442

:

I feel like that's the perfect

experience for you to have, because

443

:

that's how you show up in these

rooms now with other people.

444

:

Yeah.

445

:

Yeah.

446

:

And I will also say too, not that

it wasn't a lovely experience, but I

447

:

think that some things can feel rough.

448

:

So it's like I did also pitch

jokes that did not go well.

449

:

Sure.

450

:

And like you might get a look.

451

:

And so like, depending on what your

emotional state is on that date, maybe

452

:

that might make you feel really bad

or it's just like, people will give

453

:

you very direct, honest feedback.

454

:

Like this sucks.

455

:

And maybe they raise their

voice or something like that.

456

:

And it's not like nothing scary,

but it's like, depending on

457

:

the day or your temperament.

458

:

That might throw you off or whatever.

459

:

So.

460

:

Uh, but that said, I mean, these were

shows that were operating at like

461

:

a really high level, so they didn't

really have that kind of energy.

462

:

Like something that would

get said in the daily show, I

463

:

think was like best idea wins.

464

:

Meaning like they didn't care if

the intern had the idea or John

465

:

Stewart had the idea or whoever.

466

:

Right.

467

:

It's just like they're trying

to create an environment so

468

:

that the best idea gets heard.

469

:

So that can wind up on the show

cause that's good for the show.

470

:

And so.

471

:

There's that too, because I mean, not

all creative spaces are like that.

472

:

Some of them.

473

:

Much more toxic.

474

:

Yeah.

475

:

It's just for that particular program.

476

:

I didn't encounter much of that.

477

:

Yeah.

478

:

That's wonderful.

479

:

Yeah.

480

:

Oh, I love that.

481

:

And I'm so glad you got

finally got accepted.

482

:

Oh yeah.

483

:

Yeah.

484

:

Yeah, absolutely.

485

:

So, okay.

486

:

So you have this experience,

you graduate from college.

487

:

, I know there were probably a

couple of years in between that

488

:

and when I met you as an improv

teacher, so how did you get to.

489

:

Let's connect the dots for me between

there and now, because I've seen you

490

:

perform at the Alliance and your own solo

show, which I want to circle back to you.

491

:

, I mean, you've done some awesome shit.

492

:

, so yeah, like how, how has

all this unfolded for you?

493

:

So I came back to Atlanta and

originally I was like, oh, I'm

494

:

only going to be in, oh, sorry.

495

:

Are you originally from Atlanta?

496

:

Yes, I am.

497

:

Gotcha.

498

:

Okay.

499

:

So.

500

:

So I came back to Atlanta after

college, Atlanta is where I'm from.

501

:

And originally I thought like, oh,

because all my friends from college

502

:

were mostly going to the coast, like

New York or LA, because that's where

503

:

most of the filmmaking is happening.

504

:

But I came back to Atlanta and I was

very briefly for like a hot second.

505

:

I was one of the casting

assistants at Tyler Perry studios.

506

:

So it was back when they were filming

a meet the Browns and how's the pain.

507

:

And that was a really

great learning experience.

508

:

It was just a very short period of time.

509

:

But in that short period of

time, I got to see a lot.

510

:

So the casting department that

I was at, they were casting

511

:

for two shows at the same time.

512

:

So Tyler Perry, he kinda like

pioneered this, uh, style of shooting.

513

:

Sitcoms where, you know, maybe back in the

day, you'd shoot like a sit-com a week.

514

:

And then each season you'd have like 22

or 24 episodes at a certain it's not as

515

:

common to do that anymore, but yeah, but

that's kinda like what it was like, what.

516

:

Tyler Perry did with his studio.

517

:

He would shoot like four episodes a

week and shoot a bunch, uh, over the

518

:

course of like three or four months.

519

:

And then you'd have

like 80 episodes of TV.

520

:

And just have like much more.

521

:

Uh, and he was just doing

it for much cheaper.

522

:

So what that meant for the casting

department is rather than casting for

523

:

like, I don't know, like an episode

of TV a week, you would cast for

524

:

like eight episodes of TV a week.

525

:

So then you're seeing

that many more auditions.

526

:

Yeah.

527

:

Was that efficient or overwhelming?

528

:

, I was just an assistant.

529

:

I'm sure it was overwhelming

for some people.

530

:

But I don't know if my job

necessarily changed that much.

531

:

It's not like I was like doing eight

times as much, if that makes sense.

532

:

Okay.

533

:

So I'm sure that fell on someone.

534

:

It just didn't fell on me.

535

:

Yeah, but.

536

:

But what I.

537

:

Uh, what I got to take away from that

was, you know, Just how often, like you

538

:

would see, or this is just my experience,

but it's like, I'd see auditions

539

:

for Rome and I'd have my favorites.

540

:

Like, oh, that person

was clearly the best.

541

:

They wouldn't necessarily get the wrong.

542

:

You know, like it was super interesting,

like, or, , you know, someone

543

:

might not get a role for something,

but they made a great impression.

544

:

Uh, and so then they get

brought back into site.

545

:

Oh, okay.

546

:

Just worry about what

you can kind of control.

547

:

And just try and go and

have a good audition.

548

:

, you see like interesting choices, things

that are maybe more boring choices.

549

:

So like you see 20 people.

550

:

Do the same line.

551

:

And so you see how many people make

the same choice versus the people

552

:

that do a little something different.

553

:

, oh, that was really cool.

554

:

And then I met , , some writers of the

show at the time, some of the folk, some

555

:

of those folks I'm still in touch with.

556

:

And so.

557

:

Yeah, it was a good learning experience.

558

:

, it definitely wasn't what, , I

don't know what I was expecting.

559

:

Yeah.

560

:

But, but like, it, wasn't what I

was expecting, you know, like, , But

561

:

looking back on it, those, those are the

positive things that I took out of it.

562

:

Okay.

563

:

But then after that, that ended.

564

:

And I wanted to make sure that I

continued to work the performance muscles.

565

:

Uh, in addition to riding.

566

:

And so, , after that I became, , the

former artistic director at dad's garage.

567

:

His name's Kevin Gleason.

568

:

I was his intern.

569

:

So, , basically what that means.

570

:

I go on a couple of times a week.

571

:

And like, you know, help Tim

with stuff like admin stuff.

572

:

It looks good.

573

:

Yeah.

574

:

And then they gave me free classes

and, um, and that was really nice.

575

:

Cause it's just like, that helped me.

576

:

Be able to take improv

classes are expensive.

577

:

And Amber Nash.

578

:

She was the education

director at the time.

579

:

And I remember, I was like, Hey

Amber, you know, I get free classes.

580

:

Y'all have four levels.

581

:

Can I just take all four of them

at once and she's just like, yeah.

582

:

And so, so, so I had, you know,

extra evening time on my hands.

583

:

So I would just take

all the classes at once.

584

:

And I did that like maybe a couple

of times throughout my internship.

585

:

Wow.

586

:

, and slowly over time, like, Uh, you know,

intern, I would take classes at one place.

587

:

I start performing someplace else.

588

:

, And so over time, like I accumulated.

589

:

, like stage time.

590

:

And reps through that.

591

:

Cause I didn't really

study acting in college.

592

:

Not, not really.

593

:

I mean, And maybe took, , like

a couple acting classes,

594

:

but I wasn't like an acting.

595

:

, major and I think sometimes maybe felt

insecure, not insecure, but I didn't feel

596

:

like a trained actor because I had friends

that were like, that was their craft.

597

:

And I saw how seriously they took it.

598

:

, in college and like what that

looked like, and I'm like that Amy.

599

:

So.

600

:

And so, , I was trying to like catch up

isn't the right word, but I was like,

601

:

all right, I've seen how seriously.

602

:

My friends take acting.

603

:

I want to try to apply that to

like my improv stuff into this.

604

:

Comedy stuff that I'm going to do.

605

:

And so, yeah.

606

:

, I got to perform more at dad's garage.

607

:

, and something that is unique about

how that theater works earliest.

608

:

It was when I was there.

609

:

I'm not there currently, but

back when I was performing there.

610

:

, they're an improv theater.

611

:

So they put on improvised comedy shows.

612

:

They're also a theater company.

613

:

So they have like a scripted.

614

:

Season of theater that

they do each year as well.

615

:

And what was unique about the way

they did theater was they had the

616

:

improvisers write most of the scripts.

617

:

And so, , if you're a playwright,

at least like in Atlanta, you might

618

:

write a play, but getting a theater to

produce your work can be a challenge.

619

:

, if you don't have a relationship

with that theater, you know, , and

620

:

even if you do it can just be tough.

621

:

Yeah.

622

:

Uh, so, , what dad's

garage allowed for war?

623

:

Uh, newer playwrights.

624

:

Maybe you've never had anything

produced, but you could get

625

:

something produced, uh, there.

626

:

So, , I've been there for a little

while and I pitched a solo show.

627

:

, called the magic Negro and other

blackness, and it was a satirical

628

:

one person sketch show, looking

at the magic Negro archetype.

629

:

It pops up in American culture.

630

:

Uh, and, and so, yeah, so I got to

do that and then I was like teaching

631

:

improv and then touring what that

touring, what that solo show.

632

:

So that's the solution

I mentioned earlier.

633

:

That's how that came to be.

634

:

Okay.

635

:

That's interesting.

636

:

I didn't realize that

it had started at dad's.

637

:

That's awesome.

638

:

, I have a funny story.

639

:

Then I think of, and bring up with

a friend of mine that I saw your

640

:

show when actually fairly regularly.

641

:

So this show that mark reference,

he did at the Alliance theater, and

642

:

I took a good friend of mine and we

were like, We should get stoned first.

643

:

Do you, are you cool

with talking about weed?

644

:

Okay.

645

:

Um, first thing is really funny.

646

:

It's cause.

647

:

Like funny side story.

648

:

You're not the only person that's

come to see the show really.

649

:

a weird combination.

650

:

my favorite combination.

651

:

Um, so.

652

:

We were, we got there a little early.

653

:

Whereas sitting in the parking

garage at the Alliance.

654

:

And I had brought like

my weed, my grinder.

655

:

And like literally a bowl and

this friend that I was with, he.

656

:

Matt is married and didn't get out much.

657

:

And, uh, he's like my fun buddy.

658

:

And I'm like, do you want to hit this?

659

:

And he was like, I mean, yeah,

Um, and so I hit the ball.

660

:

I had him the wall, we're

passing it back and forth.

661

:

We're just like, hotboxing my little,

whatever car I drove at the time.

662

:

, just giggling, having a wonderful time.

663

:

And then he had one of those stone

thoughts of like, you know, how,

664

:

when you hit a bull, you like inhale.

665

:

Look, I wonder what happens if you exhale.

666

:

And so he exhaled and all

of this weed, it just goes.

667

:

my car.

668

:

Loved the magic track.

669

:

I mean, I, I sold that car and there

were definitely weed bits everywhere.

670

:

I.

671

:

It was like a bomb went off.

672

:

And I just looked at

him and I'm like, bro.

673

:

We just like, could not stop.

674

:

And then I was like,

well, I guess that's that.

675

:

Go keep it, keep it going.

676

:

And then we came in and

watched your show and.

677

:

Aye.

678

:

Um, it was great.

679

:

Start to finish.

680

:

Of course.

681

:

I think you're hilarious.

682

:

, but there's this one segment.

683

:

That I, I literally

referenced this regular.

684

:

But it's the part about Marta?

685

:

Oh yeah.

686

:

One of the funniest things

I've ever seen in my life.

687

:

I don't know if it's

cause I'm in Atlantan.

688

:

Lifelong and I just like, get it, but

will you tell me about the inspiration

689

:

for that and just kind of tell

people what I'm referring to you.

690

:

Sure.

691

:

Sure.

692

:

Yeah.

693

:

So I have a, a bit that

started from that show.

694

:

Called, you know, if Marta

expanded a cop county.

695

:

So in Atlanta, Marta is our

public transportation system.

696

:

, there's a train system.

697

:

, but it's fairly limited.

698

:

It's more limited than it should

be for a city of Atlanta size.

699

:

And then that contributes a lot to

traffic and a lot of other byproducts of

700

:

not having enough public transportation

and just people having the way

701

:

to get to where they need to go.

702

:

Yeah.

703

:

Cobb county is a suburb of Atlanta

and they have not allowed Marta

704

:

to expand to the suburb in the

way that it should at this point.

705

:

And for many years, a big narrative of

why, You know, public transportation

706

:

would not expand to that part of town.

707

:

Is because, oh, we don't want public

transportation to come here because

708

:

we don't want crime to come here.

709

:

Crime being like another word

for black people basically.

710

:

Yep.

711

:

Have you look at the history of traffic,

public transportation streets in Atlanta,

712

:

the way that it's carved up divided.

713

:

Yeah.

714

:

In general roads.

715

:

The ground you walk on.

716

:

Yeah.

717

:

Like a lot of the way that it's

been, you know, , manufactured is

718

:

due to, you know, racism and a fear

of societies and neighborhoods

719

:

mixing in one way or another.

720

:

And this narrative of

public transportation.

721

:

Bringing crime is a thread that you

even will still hear two days really.

722

:

It's wild.

723

:

Yeah.

724

:

But, I mean, but if you think about

what it would actually take for someone

725

:

to take tra public transportation, To

steal something that you value in your

726

:

home, like a television set or a sofa.

727

:

And then get back onto a bus and

then a train is wild, you know?

728

:

Uh, so that's kind of

what the bit is about.

729

:

I take on the perspective

of a, like a feat, a robber,

730

:

whoever I'm talking to my boys.

731

:

And I'm like, yo Cobb county

just opened the flood gates.

732

:

You know, Expanded Marta to Cobb county.

733

:

So we're going to Rob Cobb county night.

734

:

We're bringing black crime to Cobb county.

735

:

You know, and so I take

like a very detailed look of

736

:

what it would actually take.

737

:

And as I'm breaking it down to you,

you're like, wait, this is impossible.

738

:

This doesn't make any sense.

739

:

And so that's kinda what

that, that bits about.

740

:

It's so, so, so good.

741

:

Oh, Uh, they just, or was

it an April fool's joke?

742

:

Did Kemp just approve

funding to expand Marta?

743

:

Or was that an April fool's joke?

744

:

Do you know?

745

:

Oh, well, I do know that there are a

diff additional Marta stops being added.

746

:

But I don't know if it's necessarily

being expanded to those spots.

747

:

So I'm not, I guess the short,

short way of saying is I'm not sure.

748

:

Exactly.

749

:

Okay.

750

:

I'll have to do a little research and.

751

:

Yeah, I will leave that in

the show notes, the shore.

752

:

Uh, I, uh, every time

Marta comes up, I'm always.

753

:

Because people naturally

they're like, oh, crime.

754

:

Like you bring up this part

of like bringing a baby grand

755

:

piano on the Martin buses.

756

:

No one's going to do that.

757

:

That's not how this works.

758

:

Yeah.

759

:

, so I guess you've done.

760

:

And continue to do a really nice

job of infusing, , a kind of social

761

:

awareness and politics into your comedy.

762

:

And that's brought you to kind

of where you're at now and

763

:

the podcasts that you have.

764

:

Sure.

765

:

So, will you tell us a little bit

about how you continue doing that?

766

:

Absolutely.

767

:

Well, you know, going back to

that experience at comedy central.

768

:

And New York that I had, you know,

Tom Purcell, who is the head writer

769

:

of the Colbert report at the time, he

was the person that would be reading

770

:

a lot of the writing that I was just

doing when I was there for that week.

771

:

And something that I wasn't good at

at the time, but he really pushed was

772

:

having a very strong point of view and

writing something that you care about.

773

:

And that like, you know what

you care about subconsciously,

774

:

but you may not necessarily know

what you have a point of view on.

775

:

Cause you just think about it every day.

776

:

And so for me, that experience was helpful

in starting to develop, like what, what

777

:

are the things that I do care about?

778

:

What.

779

:

, do I have a point of view on, and,

, and also being, you know, with the

780

:

Colbert report and the daily show,

a lot of it is simply like drawing

781

:

inspiration from current events,

, broader things that are happening.

782

:

, I think another way to look at is

like, you know, what's happening in

783

:

your own neighborhoods in your own

hometown, wherever that may be, you know?

784

:

, and so.

785

:

, using the martyr pieces as an

example about how that kind

786

:

of led to what I'm doing now.

787

:

So, you know, that was part of a show

that I toured for a number of years.

788

:

Uh, and, , bill Worley,

he's an improviser in town.

789

:

Uh, also a really talented

filmmaker and a quick sidebar.

790

:

So I've known bill for over

10 years at this point.

791

:

I mean, and I've been saying

that for a couple of years,

792

:

However many years that is.

793

:

Um, but, uh, we worked

on a project together.

794

:

It was a show we did.

795

:

It was me bill Worley and John Mangan.

796

:

Who's another great actor in town.

797

:

And John Megan had this idea.

798

:

That we both kind of talked

about called like magic and bird.

799

:

Who's like, what if we did.

800

:

A live stage adaptation of the rivalry

between magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

801

:

It was very, very silly

and very ridiculous.

802

:

And, , neither one of us looked

like magic Johnson or Larry

803

:

Bird, but it was very fun.

804

:

So we like had the jerseys and we're

doing like this live show and it was

805

:

just this bonkers bonkers show that

would also have like little documentary

806

:

snippets throughout the bill shot.

807

:

And we also did a sketch for it and

I just really enjoyed the experience.

808

:

Of working with bill and I was like,

yo, this was a great experience.

809

:

Would you want to shoot

something else with me?

810

:

It's like, yeah.

811

:

And so I had the sketches,

you know, from my solo show.

812

:

So we shot the Marta piece.

813

:

, and then like two weeks

later, the world shut down.

814

:

Yeah.

815

:

Yeah.

816

:

So like I wasn't performing

or anything like that.

817

:

And you know, that's most of

what I've been doing, I've

818

:

been going out every night.

819

:

Uh, you know, teach improv to

perform someplace, doing something.

820

:

And so we were just kind of

sitting on this sketch for months.

821

:

, but then after a while, we're like, I

think we should just kind of put it out

822

:

because it's like some of the things that.

823

:

It brings up a related to conversations

that were being had at the time

824

:

around like, you know, race equity,

you know, all these kinds of things.

825

:

Right.

826

:

Uh, and then that did well.

827

:

, it resonated with folks.

828

:

And what I kind of learned from

that experience was like, oh,

829

:

you know, a point of view can be

about something very specific.

830

:

To you.

831

:

So like, you know, this very like niche

issue in Atlanta, but what would happen

832

:

is because I was so specific with it.

833

:

When I talk to people in other.

834

:

, cities or I've even been to

Canada and done this bit.

835

:

It's like people all over the

country, unfortunately have some

836

:

version of what's happening in

martyr where people don't want.

837

:

Uh, group to be in a certain space.

838

:

You know, so they're doing

things to keep people out.

839

:

Yeah.

840

:

, and so that resonated with

folks and, you know, , again,

841

:

working with bill was fantastic.

842

:

So we kind of started putting out.

843

:

Safely.

844

:

Like these solo sketches that I had,

because we were able to either shoot like

845

:

outdoors or like socially distance and.

846

:

It got momentum.

847

:

And we were eventually approached by some

folks to make, Videos around voting.

848

:

Fair districting, all

these different things.

849

:

So we're like, oh, people are asking

us to, they want to pay us to do this.

850

:

So we formed a production company.

851

:

Awesome.

852

:

And so that production company is called.

853

:

Cool, cool productions.

854

:

. And so we've taken on, , clients like

new Georgia project and fair count.

855

:

We've worked with adult swim.

856

:

, you know, we're working with

United way of greater Atlanta

857

:

right now for a certain project.

858

:

And what we found is it's like the

things that bill and I just kind of like

859

:

naturally tend towards are things like

civic engagement, community building.

860

:

These are the things

that we just like anyway.

861

:

We like talking about Atlanta, right.

862

:

, and so the production company uses

comedy as a way to discuss these topics.

863

:

Something that we found was, you

know, if you talked to someone

864

:

about like boating, let's say.

865

:

Uh, it can be rough.

866

:

You know what I mean?

867

:

Cause it's like, especially

being at a place like Georgia

868

:

during an election season.

869

:

You find yourself being inundated, all

types of media, phone, call, texts, mail

870

:

knocks on doors, all that kind of stuff.

871

:

And it can be a lot, even if those

things are coming from a great place.

872

:

But what we found is with, uh,

comedy specifically comedy that isn't

873

:

attempting to incite joy in some way.

874

:

That makes you more likely to

take some form of an action.

875

:

You know, there's also really

important comedy being done this

876

:

like more satirical or whatever.

877

:

Yeah.

878

:

This also really important.

879

:

I think.

880

:

Necessary for like a dialogue.

881

:

Sure.

882

:

But it's just like, that may not

necessarily make you take an action.

883

:

So it's like a slightly different thing

to use a form of comedy that incites

884

:

some form of like joy specifically.

885

:

And those are also really useful tools

against like misinformation or just

886

:

like being depressed about a topic.

887

:

And so for these organizations that we're

working with, A lot of times they may

888

:

not necessarily use comedy all the time.

889

:

Some of them did, but.

890

:

But they may not necessarily

use comedy all the time.

891

:

And what they found was like, oh, when

we have like this dense, complicated,

892

:

new information that we're trying

to get to our audiences, What they

893

:

bought when they work with us, it's

like, oh, well, because we use comedy.

894

:

It's more surprising.

895

:

It's more engaging.

896

:

And a lot of times, if you, , here's

something new for the first

897

:

time, it can be challenging.

898

:

You.

899

:

Like I know in my experience,

I hear something new that runs

900

:

counter to what I already know.

901

:

I'm more likely to like, knock it down.

902

:

Sure.

903

:

But if it's something that's making

me laugh, as I'm hearing it, I might

904

:

be like, oh, that's kinda interesting.

905

:

I'm thinking about that.

906

:

And you're more likely to, you know,

think about that topic over time.

907

:

And maybe I might be more

likely to change my mind.

908

:

As opposed to like holding tighter

to what I already think to be true.

909

:

, and so that's what we've found.

910

:

And so we've gotten a chance

to do like a lot of really

911

:

cool projects because of that.

912

:

, one of them.

913

:

Uh, is our podcast we

have in collaboration.

914

:

With w a B E a, which is

called what's good Atlanta.

915

:

And so as a podcast, I cohost with

the great comedian data, Purdue,

916

:

not the politician, the community.

917

:

Yeah.

918

:

And we take, we take, you know, positive

uplifting stories in and around Atlanta.

919

:

And we kind of just

talk about what's good.

920

:

Literally it's a, it's a very

short 10 or 11 minute podcasts.

921

:

Bill will also do person on the

street interviews with folks

922

:

where he'll literally go to like

Piedmont park or wherever he's at.

923

:

And ask people like, Hey, what's good.

924

:

, and so, yeah, so that's kind of how

that, that, that partnership came to be.

925

:

That's so awesome.

926

:

Do you enjoy podcasting?

927

:

I do it's it's, uh, it's definitely

like a skill like, so, , bill and I,

928

:

we had a podcast with iHeart media

for awhile called ridiculous news.

929

:

And that was a great learning experience.

930

:

I enjoyed that too.

931

:

I enjoyed that very much.

932

:

Thanks.

933

:

Thank you.

934

:

But what I learned is it's like I had to

learn, I had to learn a bunch of things.

935

:

I mean, like, it was, there's

definitely like a learning curve.

936

:

I think for me when I first

started podcasting, I got, so

937

:

self-conscious about just saying.

938

:

The wrong thing.

939

:

And I think what has helped since

then is knowing like, I'm going

940

:

to say the wrong things sometimes.

941

:

Cause I'm like an imperfect person.

942

:

Sure.

943

:

I might say something that

I'm embarrassed by later.

944

:

, but, uh, I've learned to kind of

let that go a little bit more.

945

:

, because being in my head about

that doesn't really help me.

946

:

Okay.

947

:

Uh, and then also just working with

folks that I think are great, like

948

:

David and bill and our producer.

949

:

Scotty.

950

:

You know, All that helps, you know, So.

951

:

Uh, so, so it is

something that I do enjoy.

952

:

Yeah, but it was also very much

like a learning curve for sure.

953

:

Yeah.

954

:

I can obviously relate

to that learning curve.

955

:

Yeah.

956

:

But I think rewarding.

957

:

Yeah.

958

:

And it's leading you to tonight.

959

:

You're doing a live show.

960

:

, I have this podcast.

961

:

Yes.

962

:

Did you ever do anything

live with ridiculous news?

963

:

Will this be your first

foray into live podcasts?

964

:

So for ridiculous thing for a friend.

965

:

Yeah.

966

:

So for ridiculous news,

we never did a live thing.

967

:

And with WBE, I think, cause it's a little

bit more locally focused, like WBE they're

968

:

out in the community a little bit more.

969

:

So the, and because David and I are both

lie performers, it kinda makes it a little

970

:

bit more organic for us to do live stuff.

971

:

So for example, last week we

did our first live episode.

972

:

There was four or four day.

973

:

So we were at 4 0 4 day

and we did a live episode.

974

:

We talked to Tori who is one of the

founders of Atlanta influences everything.

975

:

It was a really nice time.

976

:

And so, , with this show, this

tonight, I'm very excited about it.

977

:

So.

978

:

, it's going to be part comedy

variety show part, David and I like.

979

:

, hopping on Mike's to

record our podcast as well.

980

:

She's going to be a

little bit of everything.

981

:

It truly is like an experiment.

982

:

Uh, and it came about, , because, , I

do work with this organization called

983

:

the center for artistic activism.

984

:

So I was a fellow of their as last year.

985

:

And occasionally I'll I'll help

facilitate workshops with them or

986

:

collaborate on different projects.

987

:

Uh, and they provided some funding

to basically carry out a civic

988

:

experiment, being like, Hey, how can

you, , increase excitement around

989

:

voting in a time when people are not.

990

:

You know, and so my pitch was, it's

just like, all right, well, I'm

991

:

going to put on this variety show.

992

:

, I'm going to give out free donuts.

993

:

I'm going to give out thank

you cards that I've written.

994

:

And I'm going to bring folks together

and, , we're going to have standup comics.

995

:

When I have poets, but in the middle.

996

:

, we're going to talk

about civic engagement.

997

:

So we've invited and say, Ooh,

fought, who is a brilliant mind.

998

:

She, , used to run new Georgia project.

999

:

Does all kinds of really cool

voting work around the world.

:

00:40:31,822 --> 00:40:33,682

, and you know, the goal for tonight.

:

00:40:33,712 --> 00:40:36,202

I don't know what we're going to talk

about, but the goal ideally is that we

:

00:40:36,202 --> 00:40:40,612

talk about, you know, how she finds joy

in her work, how she finds joy in voting.

:

00:40:40,732 --> 00:40:41,092

Yeah.

:

00:40:41,122 --> 00:40:44,152

And then we're also interviewing

a former guest of yours actually

:

00:40:44,182 --> 00:40:45,112

saw I was listening to you.

:

00:40:45,232 --> 00:40:45,742

Podcast.

:

00:40:45,802 --> 00:40:48,022

Uh, research, uh, Alex,

the Atlanta magnet.

:

00:40:48,982 --> 00:40:50,092

Yeah.

:

00:40:50,632 --> 00:40:51,292

Need royalty.

:

00:40:54,382 --> 00:40:55,012

Yeah.

:

00:40:55,042 --> 00:40:57,622

So, so listening to your

interview was amazing.

:

00:40:57,652 --> 00:40:57,712

It.

:

00:40:57,952 --> 00:41:01,732

I mean, it was a great interview,

but, , and so what was funny was, , we

:

00:41:01,822 --> 00:41:03,802

talked about him on the podcast once.

:

00:41:04,072 --> 00:41:05,812

And we're like, oh, it'd

be cool to talk to him.

:

00:41:06,172 --> 00:41:10,972

And then I found like, oh, Eric has

talked to Alex before and he I've

:

00:41:10,972 --> 00:41:12,832

lived next door to him for 16 years.

:

00:41:14,392 --> 00:41:14,692

Yeah.

:

00:41:15,112 --> 00:41:15,232

And.

:

00:41:15,622 --> 00:41:17,902

What's great about the

work that Alex does.

:

00:41:18,202 --> 00:41:21,112

Picking up the nails and

debris from the road.

:

00:41:21,502 --> 00:41:22,402

It's like, isn't it.

:

00:41:22,432 --> 00:41:24,802

It's like just another

form of civic engagement.

:

00:41:24,982 --> 00:41:30,502

You know, And so what I'm curious to see

is like, you know, talking about voting

:

00:41:30,502 --> 00:41:34,072

directly, but also talking about other

forms of civic engagement and just how

:

00:41:34,072 --> 00:41:36,112

there's a lot of different entry points.

:

00:41:36,502 --> 00:41:38,272

And just from two

completely different people.

:

00:41:38,692 --> 00:41:40,552

Um, and so, yeah.

:

00:41:40,552 --> 00:41:40,762

Yeah.

:

00:41:40,822 --> 00:41:41,002

And so.

:

00:41:41,062 --> 00:41:41,662

That's kind of cool.

:

00:41:46,582 --> 00:41:49,222

So it's really just kind of

like an experiment in the

:

00:41:49,222 --> 00:41:50,212

center of artistic activism.

:

00:41:50,212 --> 00:41:53,662

They're like, it's an experiment, meaning

like it can be a success or a failure,

:

00:41:53,662 --> 00:41:55,402

so don't be afraid to fail with it.

:

00:41:56,122 --> 00:41:58,432

I'm trying to remember that

because I think a lot of times.

:

00:41:59,092 --> 00:42:00,532

I'm going to produce a

live show or whatever.

:

00:42:00,532 --> 00:42:02,782

Um, Hosting something or making a video.

:

00:42:02,812 --> 00:42:06,982

I'm like, I cling tight to it being

like, it's gotta be good success.

:

00:42:07,222 --> 00:42:09,982

And what I'm trying to remind

myself for this is like, you

:

00:42:09,982 --> 00:42:11,722

know, it's okay if it's not.

:

00:42:11,752 --> 00:42:12,082

And.

:

00:42:12,502 --> 00:42:14,272

I don't think it was

going to be a good time.

:

00:42:14,362 --> 00:42:14,512

It's.

:

00:42:14,662 --> 00:42:19,072

Not that, but it's more so just allowing

myself to just experiment with it.

:

00:42:19,362 --> 00:42:20,322

, and being like, all right.

:

00:42:20,322 --> 00:42:23,442

So like we're trying to

mush these things together.

:

00:42:23,712 --> 00:42:28,422

If at some point it gets Rocky learn from

that, because then I can do another one.

:

00:42:28,482 --> 00:42:29,052

It's something like.

:

00:42:29,472 --> 00:42:31,662

And so that's kind of like the, the.

:

00:42:32,502 --> 00:42:33,522

The, , the attitude.

:

00:42:33,672 --> 00:42:35,082

Yeah, I'm trying to

take into this evening.

:

00:42:35,322 --> 00:42:39,072

I think it's wonderful because I think

for me, I'm such a perfectionist.

:

00:42:39,882 --> 00:42:43,872

And when it comes to creative endeavors,

those two things don't necessarily mix

:

00:42:43,872 --> 00:42:45,942

because you have to just put it out there.

:

00:42:46,182 --> 00:42:47,892

And kind of see what happens.

:

00:42:47,922 --> 00:42:48,162

Yeah.

:

00:42:48,732 --> 00:42:51,492

I mean, that's just the best attitude

to have of, you know, we're going to

:

00:42:51,762 --> 00:42:56,172

learn from this one way or another,

and I think defining success and

:

00:42:56,172 --> 00:42:59,982

failure for yourself to you as, you

know, Like just a individual thing.

:

00:43:00,042 --> 00:43:00,402

Yeah.

:

00:43:00,462 --> 00:43:00,642

Yeah.

:

00:43:00,732 --> 00:43:00,972

Thanks.

:

00:43:00,972 --> 00:43:01,422

I appreciate it.

:

00:43:01,752 --> 00:43:05,892

Uh, like a goal for mine like this just

in general, creatively has been to try to

:

00:43:05,892 --> 00:43:08,772

like, just put more out there in general.

:

00:43:08,772 --> 00:43:12,942

Like, I think that there are seasons when

like I'm doing more or I'm doing less.

:

00:43:13,062 --> 00:43:16,812

And I was just kinda like, let me

say yes to a few more shows that

:

00:43:16,812 --> 00:43:18,492

normally I may or may not normally do.

:

00:43:18,492 --> 00:43:20,922

So I perform with people that I

haven't performed with before.

:

00:43:21,252 --> 00:43:25,032

Let me do, let me apply to some things

that like I wouldn't normally apply to

:

00:43:25,032 --> 00:43:26,532

just for the sake of doing it, you know?

:

00:43:26,952 --> 00:43:30,582

So I've been trying to do more

of that, knowing that is not

:

00:43:30,612 --> 00:43:32,022

going to be perfect each time.

:

00:43:32,892 --> 00:43:35,472

But I feel like when you're

putting that energy out there as

:

00:43:35,472 --> 00:43:37,362

is, I wanted more of that feeling.

:

00:43:37,782 --> 00:43:39,402

Um, being like, oh, what about done?

:

00:43:39,432 --> 00:43:41,352

You know, Yeah, I like that a lot.

:

00:43:41,352 --> 00:43:43,632

And that was one of my favorite

takeaways from doing improv with

:

00:43:43,632 --> 00:43:47,592

like driving home after an improv

class and like analyzing what I did,

:

00:43:47,652 --> 00:43:48,942

what I would've done differently.

:

00:43:48,942 --> 00:43:53,052

And it's like these little quick kind

of forays into being vulnerable and

:

00:43:53,052 --> 00:43:57,552

trying new things with kind of a low

bar of risk at the end of the day.

:

00:43:57,942 --> 00:43:59,532

, May I have a quick question for you.

:

00:43:59,532 --> 00:43:59,682

If that's.

:

00:44:00,432 --> 00:44:00,672

Yeah.

:

00:44:00,672 --> 00:44:00,972

Yeah.

:

00:44:01,692 --> 00:44:02,202

Yeah.

:

00:44:02,412 --> 00:44:05,682

So like when, when, when you're you

mentioned being a perfectionist.

:

00:44:05,952 --> 00:44:08,112

Like, I, I feel like I am as well, like.

:

00:44:08,412 --> 00:44:09,552

What are the things that your birthday.

:

00:44:09,642 --> 00:44:10,692

Uh, the 15th of September.

:

00:44:10,902 --> 00:44:11,592

Oh, you're a Virgo.

:

00:44:16,542 --> 00:44:16,782

sorry.

:

00:44:17,172 --> 00:44:19,302

I was like, I already know the

answer to this, but let me just.

:

00:44:20,112 --> 00:44:20,742

Um, okay.

:

00:44:20,742 --> 00:44:21,552

Sorry to interrupt you.

:

00:44:21,612 --> 00:44:22,482

What were you asking me?

:

00:44:22,512 --> 00:44:24,282

So you mentioned, you mentioned

being a perfectionism.

:

00:44:24,462 --> 00:44:27,822

I'm curious, like for yourself,

like what do you do to.

:

00:44:28,242 --> 00:44:29,382

Either balance that out.

:

00:44:29,472 --> 00:44:31,002

You know, like w what, what are you.

:

00:44:31,242 --> 00:44:32,412

When Matt comes up.

:

00:44:32,802 --> 00:44:33,792

That's a wonderful question.

:

00:44:33,932 --> 00:44:40,592

, so I find that if I do a lot of, kind

of legwork in advance and I can use

:

00:44:40,592 --> 00:44:41,762

here's the, here's a really good example.

:

00:44:41,972 --> 00:44:45,902

, This past Sunday night, I hosted

a sound bath here at the shop.

:

00:44:46,132 --> 00:44:48,082

, there's this woman, Natasha riles.

:

00:44:48,112 --> 00:44:50,362

Who's a Atlanta woman who is awesome.

:

00:44:50,362 --> 00:44:52,102

She just does these amazing sound baths.

:

00:44:52,402 --> 00:44:56,362

And I wanted to kind of introduce

that to my clients here.

:

00:44:56,462 --> 00:44:59,312

, but again, I'm very kind of

particular about the flow of things.

:

00:44:59,822 --> 00:45:05,162

So I literally meditated and I just forced

myself to just picture, like, start to

:

00:45:05,162 --> 00:45:07,862

finish how that whole experience would go.

:

00:45:08,102 --> 00:45:12,752

Um, and then I wrote it all down

and then I, uh, in a non meditative

:

00:45:12,752 --> 00:45:15,222

state, read through it and just

kind of pictured analytically,

:

00:45:15,222 --> 00:45:16,122

like how's that going to work?

:

00:45:16,152 --> 00:45:16,302

Dah.

:

00:45:16,662 --> 00:45:20,292

So I really, I think I go out of my

way and maybe it's a little anxiety to

:

00:45:20,292 --> 00:45:24,492

you, but to kind of in advance, figure

out, oh, that's not going to work or

:

00:45:24,492 --> 00:45:26,292

here's the pitfall potential here.

:

00:45:26,532 --> 00:45:29,562

, so I like to eliminate kind of obvious.

:

00:45:29,862 --> 00:45:32,382

Issues or failures that

could come with an idea.

:

00:45:32,662 --> 00:45:37,582

, and then I'm like, okay, I'm, I'm more

relaxed and I can show up to this and be

:

00:45:37,582 --> 00:45:41,302

kind of open and just let it unfold and

things didn't go exactly the way that

:

00:45:41,302 --> 00:45:43,252

I had written down in my little list.

:

00:45:43,372 --> 00:45:45,292

On Sunday, but they probably want better.

:

00:45:45,412 --> 00:45:45,892

Right?

:

00:45:46,072 --> 00:45:46,792

Great feedback.

:

00:45:46,792 --> 00:45:48,052

And it was a wonderful event.

:

00:45:48,352 --> 00:45:53,392

, and yeah, so I think I just, I try to get

ahead of potential issues from the jump

:

00:45:53,602 --> 00:45:57,742

and then just know like, Hey, you've done

what you can, as far as that goes, Now you

:

00:45:57,742 --> 00:45:59,392

just have to show up and just be present.

:

00:45:59,542 --> 00:46:00,292

Wow.

:

00:46:00,322 --> 00:46:03,232

I love the, uh, what you

mentioned about meditating it,

:

00:46:03,232 --> 00:46:04,222

writing it down, reading it.

:

00:46:04,372 --> 00:46:05,662

Yeah, I'm going to take that.

:

00:46:05,782 --> 00:46:06,382

You should.

:

00:46:06,952 --> 00:46:08,842

, and I'm sure you know this

with your morning pages.

:

00:46:08,842 --> 00:46:11,152

It's like, there's something

about pen to paper that.

:

00:46:11,242 --> 00:46:16,822

Like really just it's that does something

in your neuro pathways that a scientist

:

00:46:16,822 --> 00:46:20,122

could tell you about, better than I

can, but I really do like, feel better.

:

00:46:20,122 --> 00:46:22,762

Just kind of physically getting it out.

:

00:46:23,102 --> 00:46:26,222

, so yeah, that's a very, very

important part of my creative process.

:

00:46:26,282 --> 00:46:26,882

Yeah.

:

00:46:27,152 --> 00:46:27,902

That's really helpful.

:

00:46:28,142 --> 00:46:28,742

To hear that.

:

00:46:29,402 --> 00:46:29,702

Yeah.

:

00:46:29,822 --> 00:46:30,632

I feel freedom to freedom.

:

00:46:31,232 --> 00:46:31,742

Sure.

:

00:46:31,902 --> 00:46:33,432

, I remember what I was

going to ask you before.

:

00:46:33,732 --> 00:46:38,832

So what you referenced COVID are you,

is this your main source of income?

:

00:46:38,832 --> 00:46:42,432

Like how did you fare COVID cause

as a creative and same for me, like,

:

00:46:42,432 --> 00:46:43,512

I didn't work for three months.

:

00:46:43,512 --> 00:46:44,622

I had no income for three months.

:

00:46:44,652 --> 00:46:45,522

It's scary.

:

00:46:45,772 --> 00:46:47,002

, so how did you navigate that?

:

00:46:47,002 --> 00:46:48,082

How did it impact you?

:

00:46:48,292 --> 00:46:49,762

Oh, it changed.

:

00:46:49,822 --> 00:46:51,322

I mean, everything went upside down.

:

00:46:51,622 --> 00:46:57,142

It's just like, fortunately

like certain gigs that I had did

:

00:46:57,172 --> 00:46:59,032

move to being virtual, you know?

:

00:46:59,032 --> 00:47:02,532

So like, , rip creative circus, for

example, like that's an example of

:

00:47:02,532 --> 00:47:06,042

like a gig I had where I was teaching

in person and that moved to virtual.

:

00:47:06,072 --> 00:47:06,342

Cool.

:

00:47:06,402 --> 00:47:09,552

Fortunately it's like,

things like that did happen.

:

00:47:09,852 --> 00:47:13,152

And like, because more things were

moved, moving virtually more gigs moved.

:

00:47:13,512 --> 00:47:18,082

Virtually, which was nice, but it

really like shifted a whole bunch.

:

00:47:18,142 --> 00:47:18,352

Yeah.

:

00:47:18,382 --> 00:47:21,952

Because I mean, before the pandemic,

like I mentioned, I was mostly saw

:

00:47:21,952 --> 00:47:24,112

myself as like a live performer.

:

00:47:24,472 --> 00:47:28,992

And post pandemic, I still perform

when I can, but so much more of

:

00:47:28,992 --> 00:47:33,432

my time now goes towards things

that are in some way related to.

:

00:47:33,782 --> 00:47:35,612

, you know, building up

this production company.

:

00:47:36,002 --> 00:47:40,742

Whether it's like trying to plan for a

shoot, but also more so just like building

:

00:47:40,742 --> 00:47:46,622

relationships with folks that we work

with or are in similar fields, like not

:

00:47:46,622 --> 00:47:50,132

even necessarily to work with them, but

just like to build these relationships.

:

00:47:50,132 --> 00:47:51,572

So it's just like the way.

:

00:47:52,022 --> 00:47:55,202

Uh, also like I went from being

like a night person, you know?

:

00:47:55,202 --> 00:47:58,142

Cause it's just like, you

just be out all night.

:

00:47:58,562 --> 00:48:00,572

To now, like, I'm like, oh

man, I think I've been a

:

00:48:00,572 --> 00:48:01,682

morning person this whole time.

:

00:48:02,162 --> 00:48:05,882

So, so it was like, you know, like, and I

can do the late night thing, but I think

:

00:48:05,882 --> 00:48:07,712

I'm more naturally like a morning person.

:

00:48:07,712 --> 00:48:08,462

So interesting.

:

00:48:09,032 --> 00:48:12,632

Like I could probably talk for a

while about all the things that

:

00:48:12,692 --> 00:48:17,702

that changed, but it was definitely

like of like a very big shift.

:

00:48:18,092 --> 00:48:19,712

But what, what about Joseph?

:

00:48:20,102 --> 00:48:21,782

, it's interesting, kind of similar to you.

:

00:48:21,812 --> 00:48:25,802

I learned, I took

advantage of the downtime.

:

00:48:26,042 --> 00:48:30,272

And I did kind of learn about

myself in ways that I didn't have

:

00:48:30,272 --> 00:48:34,562

the opportunity to when you're just

like, You've got your schedule.

:

00:48:34,592 --> 00:48:36,722

You're like, I'm going

to work on these days.

:

00:48:36,722 --> 00:48:37,892

I sleep at these times.

:

00:48:37,892 --> 00:48:41,402

I socialize at these times, everything

was kind of pre prescribed and I'd been

:

00:48:41,402 --> 00:48:42,962

doing things the same way for so long.

:

00:48:42,962 --> 00:48:43,202

I.

:

00:48:43,412 --> 00:48:46,472

I there wasn't an opportunity

to take a step back and assess.

:

00:48:46,862 --> 00:48:51,962

Is this in tune with my natural,

like inclinations and body rhythms

:

00:48:51,962 --> 00:48:52,982

and all of that type of stuff.

:

00:48:53,262 --> 00:48:54,882

, so kind of like you I'm like,

yeah, I looked a little.

:

00:48:54,912 --> 00:48:55,902

Go to bed kind of early.

:

00:48:56,152 --> 00:48:58,552

, I wouldn't call myself a

morning person either per se.

:

00:48:59,422 --> 00:49:00,442

I just like to sleep.

:

00:49:00,472 --> 00:49:02,602

I really, I enjoyed the leisure.

:

00:49:02,852 --> 00:49:04,772

, but I enjoy an income even more.

:

00:49:05,162 --> 00:49:07,502

, but there was, , Actually, I

don't know if you remember this.

:

00:49:07,532 --> 00:49:08,552

It was when you were teaching.

:

00:49:08,702 --> 00:49:09,902

I broke my finger.

:

00:49:09,932 --> 00:49:10,292

Do you remember?

:

00:49:10,322 --> 00:49:11,672

I came in for like a giant cats.

:

00:49:13,152 --> 00:49:18,192

, but that planted the seed of like, I

need to have like revenue and income

:

00:49:18,342 --> 00:49:23,442

that isn't based solely on me cutting

hair or being physically present at work.

:

00:49:23,622 --> 00:49:25,782

, which kind of for you as a live

performer, it's like, okay,

:

00:49:25,782 --> 00:49:27,072

there's you gotta diversify.

:

00:49:27,312 --> 00:49:29,622

And so COVID kind of really was up.

:

00:49:30,132 --> 00:49:33,642

Uh, supercharged, like dip it

back into that mindset of like,

:

00:49:33,822 --> 00:49:35,022

you got to shake things up.

:

00:49:35,022 --> 00:49:39,852

And so that was kind of where I had the

idea of, , Branch and more into retail.

:

00:49:40,062 --> 00:49:42,252

And I started working with this business

coach and she's the one that , she's

:

00:49:42,252 --> 00:49:43,902

like, you have to do this podcast thing.

:

00:49:45,052 --> 00:49:48,292

, and, uh, uh, podcast had come up a lot of

times and like friends had suggested it.

:

00:49:48,292 --> 00:49:49,252

And I was like, no, no, no.

:

00:49:49,312 --> 00:49:51,082

Like there's other people that are better.

:

00:49:51,082 --> 00:49:53,182

And like were at after that, to me.

:

00:49:53,452 --> 00:49:58,012

, But I, uh, yeah, I think COVID really kind

of laid the groundwork for me to become

:

00:49:58,402 --> 00:50:00,052

the version of myself that I am now.

:

00:50:00,262 --> 00:50:01,882

And I feel very balanced.

:

00:50:02,122 --> 00:50:06,502

Um, so I still provide services and

take a select number of clients.

:

00:50:06,772 --> 00:50:07,222

I've got.

:

00:50:07,732 --> 00:50:08,752

Physical retail shop.

:

00:50:08,782 --> 00:50:10,042

I've got an online retail shop.

:

00:50:10,072 --> 00:50:13,072

I've got the podcast, which

makes me $0 yet, but it will.

:

00:50:13,912 --> 00:50:19,312

And so, yeah, I think that look, the scary

thing is like losing, like your, your,

:

00:50:19,402 --> 00:50:23,122

the roof over your head and like that

security and safety and getting close

:

00:50:23,122 --> 00:50:28,312

to that really kind of forced me to, to

reevaluate and kind of renegotiate what

:

00:50:28,312 --> 00:50:29,902

I'm doing, where I'm going, what I want.

:

00:50:29,902 --> 00:50:30,832

What's important to me.

:

00:50:31,292 --> 00:50:33,752

, and so I feel very clear

and present on that now.

:

00:50:34,532 --> 00:50:35,072

That's great.

:

00:50:35,072 --> 00:50:36,062

I haven't filed a question about that.

:

00:50:36,062 --> 00:50:38,612

So it's like, you know, you mentioned

bounce and it's just like, how did you

:

00:50:38,612 --> 00:50:43,202

know that you were getting closer to

being balanced just with everything.

:

00:50:43,442 --> 00:50:44,972

What were some indicators for you?

:

00:50:45,122 --> 00:50:46,202

That's a wonderful question.

:

00:50:46,362 --> 00:50:51,672

, I think so, especially as a woman there

and at my age, I came up in the kind

:

00:50:51,672 --> 00:50:53,982

of toxic girl boss season of things.

:

00:50:54,372 --> 00:50:58,092

Where you're told what balance

is and not really invited to

:

00:50:58,092 --> 00:50:59,532

assess what it means for you.

:

00:50:59,952 --> 00:51:04,272

And what I realized was there's no

such thing as actual balance, but for

:

00:51:04,272 --> 00:51:07,392

me, it's, Hey, I'm going to go hard

this week and then I'm not going to

:

00:51:07,392 --> 00:51:08,772

over-schedule myself the next week.

:

00:51:08,932 --> 00:51:13,252

, so, so if you look at my schedule,

it may not look balanced, but

:

00:51:13,252 --> 00:51:17,122

for me and my energy levels,

it's a net neutral, basically.

:

00:51:17,402 --> 00:51:21,062

, so just really getting clear

with myself and meditation was

:

00:51:21,062 --> 00:51:22,712

huge for this to just really.

:

00:51:23,312 --> 00:51:26,462

Putting away all the noise and other

people's ideas and opinions of what

:

00:51:26,462 --> 00:51:28,082

I should be and what I should do.

:

00:51:28,292 --> 00:51:31,472

And just, just being clear

with my inner voice and what.

:

00:51:32,192 --> 00:51:35,792

I need to be happy with myself and

content with what I'm creating.

:

00:51:36,072 --> 00:51:37,722

And no one to trust

that over anything else.

:

00:51:37,722 --> 00:51:40,092

And of course I love feedback

and constructive criticism.

:

00:51:40,092 --> 00:51:41,322

That's super important.

:

00:51:41,652 --> 00:51:43,452

, but yeah, I think I just got really clear.

:

00:51:43,452 --> 00:51:46,092

And so it was, you know, I'm going

to say no to this thing that I

:

00:51:46,092 --> 00:51:47,682

wouldn't have said no to last year.

:

00:51:47,842 --> 00:51:50,602

, because I know that it's going to put

me out of whack for what my goal is.

:

00:51:51,052 --> 00:51:52,072

Uh, so I guess.

:

00:51:52,582 --> 00:51:53,752

I got, did that answer your question?

:

00:51:53,752 --> 00:51:54,472

It does.

:

00:51:54,532 --> 00:51:58,342

I think something that resonates a lot

is like, You were talking about one

:

00:51:58,342 --> 00:52:01,792

week, may look different from the next,

but it balances your energy levels.

:

00:52:01,852 --> 00:52:02,422

Yeah.

:

00:52:02,542 --> 00:52:04,612

And I think that that resonates a lot.

:

00:52:04,612 --> 00:52:08,422

Cause like, you know, sometimes

we might travel to shoot

:

00:52:08,422 --> 00:52:09,982

something or travel for work.

:

00:52:10,012 --> 00:52:10,432

Yeah.

:

00:52:10,462 --> 00:52:14,362

And so then it's important then to have

like, I'm just processing this for myself.

:

00:52:14,362 --> 00:52:15,862

It's like, So then the next week.

:

00:52:16,282 --> 00:52:17,782

You know, maybe don't push it.

:

00:52:18,622 --> 00:52:19,222

Yeah.

:

00:52:19,222 --> 00:52:19,552

Yeah.

:

00:52:19,582 --> 00:52:21,952

Just like, cause when you know

yourself, you can anticipate

:

00:52:21,952 --> 00:52:22,912

what you're going to need.

:

00:52:23,182 --> 00:52:24,832

, And I was just talking to a

friend last night, actually,

:

00:52:24,832 --> 00:52:25,942

who travels a ton for work.

:

00:52:25,942 --> 00:52:30,262

And he's like having a hard time

dating because you know, he'll have

:

00:52:30,262 --> 00:52:32,992

just been out of town for a week and

coming home and has no groceries.

:

00:52:33,292 --> 00:52:34,492

And people are like, do

you want to get a drink?

:

00:52:34,492 --> 00:52:35,542

Like where do you want to go?

:

00:52:35,722 --> 00:52:36,202

What do you want to do?

:

00:52:36,232 --> 00:52:36,502

Dah, dah, dah.

:

00:52:36,532 --> 00:52:38,212

And it's like, I don't want

to answer these questions.

:

00:52:38,242 --> 00:52:41,212

Like, if you want to get a drink, say,

Hey, meet me at this place at this time.

:

00:52:41,332 --> 00:52:43,852

But , my bandwidth is like

not present right now.

:

00:52:44,182 --> 00:52:47,842

And, uh, he's like the priority

has to be what pays my bills.

:

00:52:47,872 --> 00:52:51,512

Like, you know, , and so just knowing,

like, don't even try to book a date

:

00:52:51,512 --> 00:52:54,482

the night that you just got back in

town after a week long term, you're not

:

00:52:54,482 --> 00:52:55,742

going to be your best self on that date.

:

00:52:56,072 --> 00:52:57,842

You're going to be tired.

:

00:52:57,872 --> 00:52:59,972

And if that person doesn't bring

their a game, you're gonna be

:

00:52:59,972 --> 00:53:00,752

like, what a waste of time.

:

00:53:02,822 --> 00:53:02,972

Yeah.

:

00:53:03,542 --> 00:53:03,932

Yeah.

:

00:53:03,962 --> 00:53:07,322

So I think just figuring out

yourself and a lot of people.

:

00:53:07,682 --> 00:53:11,312

You know, social media is so toxic

and a lot of ways, of course, but you

:

00:53:11,312 --> 00:53:14,672

see these people at the end of life

and it's not a day in their life.

:

00:53:14,702 --> 00:53:14,942

It's a.

:

00:53:15,182 --> 00:53:16,322

It's content right.

:

00:53:16,442 --> 00:53:18,242

Um, and people were like, oh my

God, this is what people are doing.

:

00:53:18,272 --> 00:53:19,052

I'm not doing enough.

:

00:53:19,052 --> 00:53:20,222

And you compare yourself.

:

00:53:20,522 --> 00:53:22,082

And that is that.

:

00:53:22,412 --> 00:53:23,402

I stopped doing that.

:

00:53:23,402 --> 00:53:24,482

I think that's like the biggest thing.

:

00:53:24,512 --> 00:53:26,072

And I was like, it doesn't

matter what she's doing.

:

00:53:26,102 --> 00:53:26,432

Yeah.

:

00:53:26,462 --> 00:53:26,912

Oh, you.

:

00:53:27,452 --> 00:53:30,152

That actually brings up another

question because you brought

:

00:53:30,152 --> 00:53:31,412

something up on a previous episode.

:

00:53:31,652 --> 00:53:34,832

You're talking about social media and

you were talking about, , trying to

:

00:53:34,832 --> 00:53:36,272

paraphrase some, something to miss things.

:

00:53:36,632 --> 00:53:40,742

We were talking about like, you know,

For your work, like there's a certain

:

00:53:40,742 --> 00:53:42,242

amount of social media that has to happen.

:

00:53:42,812 --> 00:53:45,782

But like you interacting

with it in an authentic way.

:

00:53:46,502 --> 00:53:48,812

In a way that makes

sense can be challenging.

:

00:53:48,992 --> 00:53:51,812

And also sounds like you don't care

about it a hundred percent, you know,

:

00:53:51,872 --> 00:53:56,012

and like, I thought it was so interesting

that that resume resonated with me.

:

00:53:56,372 --> 00:54:00,752

'cause when we first started putting out

videos, like they were getting views.

:

00:54:00,752 --> 00:54:02,762

And so like, we were putting

them on different platforms.

:

00:54:03,032 --> 00:54:05,402

And at the time we first

started doing videos.

:

00:54:05,432 --> 00:54:06,752

I was on Facebook and nothing else.

:

00:54:06,752 --> 00:54:10,142

So I've never been on Twitter, never

been on Instagram, never been on Tik TOK.

:

00:54:10,292 --> 00:54:12,452

I'm not had to join these things.

:

00:54:12,872 --> 00:54:14,702

And so some of them were pretty cool.

:

00:54:14,732 --> 00:54:15,392

I was like, I get it.

:

00:54:15,452 --> 00:54:18,992

I get it now with this grant, but it's

like you mentioned comparing earlier.

:

00:54:19,022 --> 00:54:19,562

Yes.

:

00:54:19,712 --> 00:54:20,942

And it was very difficult.

:

00:54:21,272 --> 00:54:24,182

You know, not to do that,

even if you don't want to be.

:

00:54:24,662 --> 00:54:27,362

You're just scrolling and you're

like, oh, well, they're here.

:

00:54:27,362 --> 00:54:28,262

Um, I'm here.

:

00:54:28,292 --> 00:54:28,442

Yeah.

:

00:54:28,502 --> 00:54:30,752

So that in itself isn't comparison.

:

00:54:31,472 --> 00:54:33,962

Uh, I don't know what the question

is other than like, how are you?

:

00:54:34,472 --> 00:54:35,552

What works for you?

:

00:54:36,422 --> 00:54:39,752

Well, I guess that depends

on how you define what works.

:

00:54:40,262 --> 00:54:40,952

Yeah.

:

00:54:41,132 --> 00:54:42,152

So, uh,

:

00:54:43,712 --> 00:54:48,272

I'm still every day, I'm navigating

that because I genuinely don't care.

:

00:54:48,492 --> 00:54:52,392

, so like my Instagram for this podcast.

:

00:54:52,722 --> 00:54:56,052

I think I have like 150 followers,

but the followers I have are engaged.

:

00:54:56,052 --> 00:54:56,082

There's.

:

00:54:57,712 --> 00:55:01,672

, so it's like, of course there's other

podcasts that have 25,000 followers

:

00:55:01,672 --> 00:55:04,162

and like their videos are on point and

they're clearly paying a production

:

00:55:04,162 --> 00:55:05,452

company to create all of this.

:

00:55:05,782 --> 00:55:08,932

And I find myself like, I'll just

set my phone down and I'm like,

:

00:55:08,992 --> 00:55:09,772

oh, you're not doing enough.

:

00:55:09,772 --> 00:55:10,432

You're not doing enough.

:

00:55:10,642 --> 00:55:14,152

And then I remind myself, you're

doing the max that you can.

:

00:55:14,362 --> 00:55:14,842

I.

:

00:55:15,412 --> 00:55:16,402

Do you all have this?

:

00:55:16,402 --> 00:55:19,192

I produce this, I edit

this, I published this.

:

00:55:19,422 --> 00:55:22,872

, and I enjoy that because

again, I'm controlling and, uh,

:

00:55:22,872 --> 00:55:25,332

it's my creative, uh, Output.

:

00:55:25,672 --> 00:55:28,282

And so at this stage of things,

I just have to be comfortable

:

00:55:28,282 --> 00:55:29,362

where I'm like, I'm doing.

:

00:55:29,662 --> 00:55:33,622

As much as I can, and that will

evolve as I've watched it evolve

:

00:55:33,622 --> 00:55:35,212

in other facets of my career.

:

00:55:35,482 --> 00:55:37,432

And that will show up online.

:

00:55:37,462 --> 00:55:41,092

But at the end of the day, And I was

actually having a conversation about this

:

00:55:41,092 --> 00:55:45,082

for the Instagram, for my, my retail shop,

which is more popular than the podcast.

:

00:55:45,362 --> 00:55:48,812

, Uh, but followers don't equal revenue.

:

00:55:48,932 --> 00:55:52,322

So there's lots of people where

you look at their pages and you're

:

00:55:52,322 --> 00:55:55,082

like, oh my God, like, how do they

already have 50,000 followers?

:

00:55:55,472 --> 00:55:57,692

, but you know that person and

you're like, oh, they couldn't

:

00:55:57,692 --> 00:55:59,162

pay their lease last month.

:

00:55:59,512 --> 00:56:03,862

, so I think that you just have to know

that for me and my values, like I'm

:

00:56:03,892 --> 00:56:07,252

very, very pleased with the quality

of the content that I'm putting out.

:

00:56:07,432 --> 00:56:10,342

I'm doing the best job I can

while still learning how to do it.

:

00:56:10,672 --> 00:56:13,942

And that's what makes me sleep

well at night, not having a

:

00:56:13,942 --> 00:56:14,992

certain number of followers.

:

00:56:15,202 --> 00:56:17,272

Because that's just like

the social media people.

:

00:56:17,452 --> 00:56:19,402

That's that's Metta telling me.

:

00:56:19,432 --> 00:56:23,062

Yeah, that like, I'm not cool unless I

have a lot of followers and I disagree

:

00:56:23,062 --> 00:56:24,442

and I think I'm cool without them.

:

00:56:24,652 --> 00:56:24,742

Yeah.

:

00:56:24,852 --> 00:56:27,942

, so I would, of course like to

grow at, because I want more

:

00:56:27,972 --> 00:56:29,382

visibility for this project.

:

00:56:29,502 --> 00:56:29,682

Right.

:

00:56:29,682 --> 00:56:34,032

But at the end of the day, if it's not

going to pay my mortgage, I don't care.

:

00:56:34,182 --> 00:56:35,292

Right, right.

:

00:56:35,772 --> 00:56:36,612

Yeah, no, that's super.

:

00:56:37,722 --> 00:56:38,682

That's super helpful.

:

00:56:38,892 --> 00:56:39,222

Yeah.

:

00:56:39,462 --> 00:56:40,902

And I appreciate you sharing.

:

00:56:40,932 --> 00:56:45,072

I like to ask people about it cause it's

like, We all deal with it as creative.

:

00:56:45,132 --> 00:56:46,002

Yeah.

:

00:56:46,092 --> 00:56:46,602

Yeah.

:

00:56:46,782 --> 00:56:48,912

Cause it's kinda like, it's not as

simple being like, oh, I'm going

:

00:56:48,912 --> 00:56:51,792

to turn it off a slight, well,

you got to gain a little bit.

:

00:56:51,822 --> 00:56:52,182

Correct.

:

00:56:52,452 --> 00:56:56,022

I was working for other people and

like, From what other folks are doing.

:

00:56:56,082 --> 00:56:56,352

Yeah.

:

00:56:56,412 --> 00:57:00,372

I'm absolutely learning every day

because I don't know what, like.

:

00:57:01,002 --> 00:57:02,802

The magnet man is

actually a great example.

:

00:57:02,802 --> 00:57:07,062

I mean, he started that page four months

ago and he's got like 25,000 followers.

:

00:57:07,632 --> 00:57:11,742

And all he's doing is just

being so authentically himself.

:

00:57:12,162 --> 00:57:13,062

, and he deserves all of this.

:

00:57:13,242 --> 00:57:14,142

I mean, he's awesome.

:

00:57:14,262 --> 00:57:17,862

However, at least as we're recording

this, like that page, doesn't monetize.

:

00:57:18,012 --> 00:57:19,392

So like, he's got great engagement.

:

00:57:19,392 --> 00:57:22,662

He's got a lot of followers, but

again, it doesn't pay his mortgage.

:

00:57:22,662 --> 00:57:24,342

It's just truly a creative outlet.

:

00:57:24,342 --> 00:57:28,812

So it's like, how do you quantify the

value of that number of followers?

:

00:57:28,962 --> 00:57:29,232

Right.

:

00:57:29,232 --> 00:57:30,492

Likes and comments, right?

:

00:57:30,522 --> 00:57:31,122

Right.

:

00:57:31,602 --> 00:57:31,872

Yeah.

:

00:57:31,932 --> 00:57:32,922

So I don't know, man.

:

00:57:32,982 --> 00:57:33,462

It's definitely.

:

00:57:35,682 --> 00:57:36,912

If you're listening, please follow me.

:

00:57:40,572 --> 00:57:41,052

If you don't mind.

:

00:57:42,522 --> 00:57:45,552

And it does nothing to you

is like, I don't really, I'm

:

00:57:45,552 --> 00:57:46,782

not good at asking for help.

:

00:57:46,962 --> 00:57:49,092

I'm not good at asking for stuff.

:

00:57:49,272 --> 00:57:52,122

If I can do it alone, I'm going

to do it alone, which maybe

:

00:57:52,122 --> 00:57:53,802

is like a trauma response to.

:

00:57:55,272 --> 00:57:56,532

Things I should talk about in therapy.

:

00:57:57,312 --> 00:57:59,262

Uh, but I'm not good at being like, like.

:

00:58:00,072 --> 00:58:03,192

I kind of, um, I want to build

it and let it come type of thing.

:

00:58:03,192 --> 00:58:05,952

So it's like, if you feel, and I wonder

if this resonates with you, but like,

:

00:58:06,252 --> 00:58:07,992

Hey, I put it all into the sketch.

:

00:58:08,022 --> 00:58:09,042

Like I feel good about this.

:

00:58:09,042 --> 00:58:09,522

This is solid.

:

00:58:09,552 --> 00:58:10,422

This represents me.

:

00:58:10,632 --> 00:58:13,392

I'm going to put it out there and

just like, see what happens and not

:

00:58:13,392 --> 00:58:15,432

worry about people's reaction as much.

:

00:58:16,272 --> 00:58:18,012

Um, learning to get much better at that.

:

00:58:18,252 --> 00:58:18,672

Yeah.

:

00:58:18,672 --> 00:58:19,452

Yeah, yeah.

:

00:58:19,482 --> 00:58:24,262

I've learned to like, I think, , cause

I think I, yeah, I think also too, just

:

00:58:24,262 --> 00:58:28,672

the way you put comedy out has changed

so much, so much now versus like.

:

00:58:28,972 --> 00:58:29,842

When I started.

:

00:58:30,232 --> 00:58:33,622

So like, for example, like when I

started, if you're like a standup

:

00:58:33,622 --> 00:58:37,522

comic, you wouldn't put stuff out on the

internet because you wouldn't want to

:

00:58:37,522 --> 00:58:40,072

burn jokes or like whatever the case.

:

00:58:40,432 --> 00:58:42,462

May be, , and you would

wait until it's light.

:

00:58:42,462 --> 00:58:44,532

We'll wait until you get on

TV or something like that.

:

00:58:44,832 --> 00:58:46,722

But now it's just like, that's flipped.

:

00:58:46,722 --> 00:58:47,952

It's just like you got something good.

:

00:58:47,952 --> 00:58:49,332

Like put it out there and see.

:

00:58:49,872 --> 00:58:51,642

Uh, what happens, you know?

:

00:58:51,642 --> 00:58:52,902

And so I become.

:

00:58:53,112 --> 00:58:54,132

I think in a positive way.

:

00:58:54,192 --> 00:58:54,432

Yeah.

:

00:58:54,462 --> 00:58:57,462

Like I'm less concerned.

:

00:58:57,492 --> 00:59:00,552

Like when I put something out there,

like I'm more like, well, this is

:

00:59:00,552 --> 00:59:02,592

interesting to me at this time.

:

00:59:02,592 --> 00:59:04,662

I, I want to put it out,

so I'm going to put it out.

:

00:59:04,662 --> 00:59:07,122

So, which is, which was

not necessarily the case.

:

00:59:07,542 --> 00:59:12,402

Like when I first started with things and

again, I don't think it was bad then, you

:

00:59:12,402 --> 00:59:15,852

know, It was just more so like, uh, I was

just like, oh, I want to put out some of

:

00:59:15,852 --> 00:59:20,202

this quality and that's a good impulse

to have, but I think also being okay.

:

00:59:20,892 --> 00:59:22,332

I'm putting something

out just to put it out.

:

00:59:22,482 --> 00:59:23,592

Yeah, that's it.

:

00:59:23,592 --> 00:59:27,792

And I know like there's episodes, I've

put out where I'm like, was this the best

:

00:59:27,792 --> 00:59:29,172

thing I've ever created in my entire life?

:

00:59:29,202 --> 00:59:30,792

Like maybe not.

:

00:59:31,012 --> 00:59:34,342

, but it's, there's still, if somebody has

a takeaway and gets a little something

:

00:59:34,342 --> 00:59:38,392

from it, then it's worth producing

and not everything we see, we do, you

:

00:59:38,422 --> 00:59:40,372

can be 110% of ourselves at all times.

:

00:59:40,372 --> 00:59:40,912

I mean, that's just.

:

00:59:41,242 --> 00:59:41,872

UN UN.

:

00:59:42,622 --> 00:59:46,882

Um, reasonable or unrealistic

expectation when you're talking about

:

00:59:46,882 --> 00:59:49,882

something creative, it's not math where

it's like, this is right or wrong.

:

00:59:49,942 --> 00:59:50,152

You.

:

00:59:50,452 --> 00:59:52,462

There's no, like binary like that.

:

00:59:52,852 --> 00:59:55,192

, so yeah, creative stuff is

just tough and subjective.

:

00:59:55,222 --> 00:59:58,642

And, , I think you just have to, if

you feel that calling to do something

:

00:59:58,642 --> 01:00:03,172

creative, you just have to do it and

put it out there and, uh, Be like

:

01:00:03,202 --> 01:00:04,402

have integrity behind your work.

:

01:00:04,882 --> 01:00:09,562

If you feel like it's authentic and a

true representation of yourself than a.

:

01:00:10,132 --> 01:00:11,842

I mean, I'll sleep sound, you know?

:

01:00:12,232 --> 01:00:12,982

Yeah, I love that.

:

01:00:13,252 --> 01:00:14,422

Oh, I had another question for you too.

:

01:00:14,932 --> 01:00:15,262

How did.

:

01:00:15,712 --> 01:00:17,872

How did you get into comedy originally?

:

01:00:18,152 --> 01:00:18,422

, okay.

:

01:00:18,422 --> 01:00:19,052

Great question.

:

01:00:19,602 --> 01:00:21,642

I've always been funny.

:

01:00:21,972 --> 01:00:23,952

And I don't mean that like a braggy way.

:

01:00:23,982 --> 01:00:24,042

Um,

:

01:00:26,292 --> 01:00:27,192

You are a funny person.

:

01:00:27,192 --> 01:00:27,672

You are what?

:

01:00:27,702 --> 01:00:28,902

Yeah, like I know what you mean.

:

01:00:28,902 --> 01:00:29,622

You are a funny person.

:

01:00:29,952 --> 01:00:32,682

Like, I always, I've never have had

a hard time making people laugh.

:

01:00:32,712 --> 01:00:34,062

And my dad is hilarious.

:

01:00:34,092 --> 01:00:36,432

He's an asshole, but he is hilarious.

:

01:00:36,462 --> 01:00:40,962

And I think I grew up in a household

where humor was used to diffuse

:

01:00:40,962 --> 01:00:42,462

things and to address things.

:

01:00:42,702 --> 01:00:46,212

We didn't have a lot of sit down

deep, serious family conversations.

:

01:00:46,332 --> 01:00:50,472

, humor was the vehicle for kind of

some important content back to what

:

01:00:50,472 --> 01:00:53,882

you were saying about the, you know,

, civil engagement type of step in.

:

01:00:54,362 --> 01:00:55,802

Kind of putting that under

the umbrella of comedy.

:

01:00:56,052 --> 01:00:57,972

, so I think I always grew up.

:

01:00:58,482 --> 01:01:00,822

Being shown there was

a value in being funny.

:

01:01:01,092 --> 01:01:03,522

Um, and of course, making

people laugh feels good.

:

01:01:03,552 --> 01:01:03,702

Yeah.

:

01:01:03,922 --> 01:01:08,602

, and so I, uh, never would have

thought that I would like.

:

01:01:09,172 --> 01:01:11,662

I be like, I be a standup

or anything like that.

:

01:01:11,982 --> 01:01:13,242

, but, uh, was.

:

01:01:13,602 --> 01:01:17,802

I think I have like a business coach and

I was in my, probably mid twenties, late

:

01:01:17,802 --> 01:01:19,212

twenties when I started doing improv.

:

01:01:19,212 --> 01:01:21,852

And she was like, this is going

to help you with public speaking.

:

01:01:21,882 --> 01:01:23,352

Oh, oh, I'm glad you asked me this.

:

01:01:23,352 --> 01:01:23,742

I'm like, I've got.

:

01:01:24,922 --> 01:01:28,222

, I was doing a lot of teaching

and educating for my salon work.

:

01:01:28,312 --> 01:01:33,082

Um, so I'd be going to other cities and

other salons and, you know, it was getting

:

01:01:33,082 --> 01:01:35,212

to the point, I think the biggest group

of people I spoke in front of us, like

:

01:01:35,272 --> 01:01:36,772

maybe a hundred ish people, but for some.

:

01:01:38,122 --> 01:01:40,312

Um, and I just got crippling anxiety.

:

01:01:40,312 --> 01:01:41,092

Like I didn't like it.

:

01:01:41,272 --> 01:01:46,822

Um, Uh, in, in, uh, in that I

totally, that totally makes sense.

:

01:01:46,822 --> 01:01:47,992

I'm not saying like, how's that possible?

:

01:01:48,082 --> 01:01:48,532

But yeah.

:

01:01:49,252 --> 01:01:53,542

When I, when I've seen you speak in

class elsewhere, it's just like you

:

01:01:53,542 --> 01:01:55,162

could, you can man, the room, I.

:

01:01:55,252 --> 01:01:57,442

And I'm curious, like where that's

from and also want to learn how

:

01:01:57,442 --> 01:01:59,632

you got into comedy, but that

was also just interesting to you.

:

01:01:59,752 --> 01:02:00,382

Yeah.

:

01:02:00,682 --> 01:02:01,702

, that's bravado.

:

01:02:02,002 --> 01:02:02,542

That's fake.

:

01:02:02,782 --> 01:02:05,182

, and you know, it's funny you

remember Ian from Highwire.

:

01:02:05,552 --> 01:02:09,442

, we have like a post graduation,

like, , A feedback session.

:

01:02:09,742 --> 01:02:12,952

And I remember sitting down with him, we

were at some little like Irish pub and he

:

01:02:12,952 --> 01:02:14,272

just looked at me and he was like, would.

:

01:02:14,272 --> 01:02:16,612

Would it kill you to not

play an alpha character?

:

01:02:16,642 --> 01:02:20,032

And I was like, and it's never occurred

to me to not play an alpha character.

:

01:02:20,662 --> 01:02:21,442

I just am.

:

01:02:21,772 --> 01:02:22,792

It's a control thing though.

:

01:02:22,792 --> 01:02:23,422

You know what I mean?

:

01:02:23,872 --> 01:02:27,442

, but And people always are surprised

to hear that about me because I do

:

01:02:27,442 --> 01:02:32,362

when I'm out there, I turn it on

and I'm like, everything's fine.

:

01:02:32,362 --> 01:02:35,212

Kind of once I get started,

But like that lead up to it.

:

01:02:35,212 --> 01:02:39,862

I mean, sweaty palms, heart racing,

just, I mean, Uncontrollable anxiety.

:

01:02:40,222 --> 01:02:44,332

And, uh, so I, it was suggested that I

take up improv because it would help me.

:

01:02:44,332 --> 01:02:47,392

I mean, I would like rehearse a phone

call before I make it type of anxiety.

:

01:02:47,752 --> 01:02:48,532

, And improv.

:

01:02:48,592 --> 01:02:49,762

There's no time to be anxious.

:

01:02:49,762 --> 01:02:52,282

Like it really helps you

to work through that.

:

01:02:52,282 --> 01:02:53,122

And I a.

:

01:02:53,662 --> 01:02:57,652

Like the me on the other side of having

taken up, like pretty intensive, I mean,

:

01:02:57,652 --> 01:02:59,332

to look pretty intense years of improv.

:

01:02:59,452 --> 01:03:00,382

Um, education.

:

01:03:00,772 --> 01:03:01,402

, oh my God.

:

01:03:01,402 --> 01:03:04,222

I mean, it's so much better and I still

will get anxious from time to time,

:

01:03:04,222 --> 01:03:07,672

but nothing like it was before, but

it was a hundred percent of fake it

:

01:03:07,672 --> 01:03:09,832

till you make it like bravado thing.

:

01:03:09,862 --> 01:03:10,192

Like.

:

01:03:10,582 --> 01:03:10,912

Yeah.

:

01:03:12,352 --> 01:03:16,462

So got into comedy largely just

from the public speaking aspect.

:

01:03:16,462 --> 01:03:16,852

Yeah.

:

01:03:16,942 --> 01:03:18,712

I'm curious, you know, you

doing it for two years.

:

01:03:18,712 --> 01:03:22,552

Was there something, did you, were there

other things too that had you stick with?

:

01:03:22,582 --> 01:03:23,662

And I suppose, you know, cause.

:

01:03:24,202 --> 01:03:27,442

Um, in some respects, maybe you could

have taken a class, gotten wish needed.

:

01:03:27,742 --> 01:03:28,282

Yeah.

:

01:03:29,102 --> 01:03:31,742

, I really enjoyed, so.

:

01:03:32,342 --> 01:03:35,612

Especially as a woman in your late

twenties, mid to late twenties.

:

01:03:35,652 --> 01:03:38,022

, that's when people are starting

to get married, starting to have

:

01:03:38,022 --> 01:03:40,872

babies and starting to get boring,

and I didn't want to do any of that.

:

01:03:40,872 --> 01:03:44,682

And so I noticed, you know, my

social circle kind of fluctuating

:

01:03:44,682 --> 01:03:48,762

and I'm like, you know, I want to

do, uh, some, some stuff for me.

:

01:03:48,952 --> 01:03:51,442

, and I, uh, really enjoyed it.

:

01:03:51,442 --> 01:03:53,092

I loved the people that I met.

:

01:03:53,222 --> 01:03:55,982

, I, uh, have never dated

so much in my life.

:

01:03:55,982 --> 01:03:57,332

I was so popular.

:

01:03:57,752 --> 01:03:59,282

I'm like, oh my God.

:

01:04:01,922 --> 01:04:05,252

It's like a really nice little pool

to meet real people in real life.

:

01:04:05,252 --> 01:04:05,552

Right.

:

01:04:05,782 --> 01:04:07,222

, and I liked the social aspect of it.

:

01:04:07,222 --> 01:04:11,812

And I enjoyed knowing like once a

week for two hours, I'm going to be

:

01:04:11,842 --> 01:04:16,162

vulnerable and silly and have fun and

just play with other people who, uh,

:

01:04:16,432 --> 01:04:18,112

Maybe I have nothing in common with.

:

01:04:18,452 --> 01:04:21,242

, but I loved the, uh, like.

:

01:04:21,572 --> 01:04:24,932

All of the labels that we all

have prescribed to ourselves.

:

01:04:25,202 --> 01:04:29,552

I feel like don't, maybe don't isn't is a

stretch, but like, I feel like you leave

:

01:04:29,552 --> 01:04:32,702

a lot about it at the door and you can

really pretend and play around with being

:

01:04:32,702 --> 01:04:34,142

anybody as long as they're not a beta.

:

01:04:34,471 --> 01:04:34,682

Um,

:

01:04:40,232 --> 01:04:40,682

So.

:

01:04:41,192 --> 01:04:43,592

Yeah, I just, I just

like really enjoyed it.

:

01:04:43,642 --> 01:04:44,692

, uh, but it's, I.

:

01:04:44,932 --> 01:04:48,022

I guess as the people that I met along the

way, and the people that I'm still friends

:

01:04:48,022 --> 01:04:53,292

with to this day and really appreciate,

, Having experienced knowing in my life.

:

01:04:53,352 --> 01:04:53,892

That's cool.

:

01:04:53,982 --> 01:04:56,922

And so you did improv,

did you stand up as well?

:

01:04:57,162 --> 01:04:58,152

I did not do stand out.

:

01:04:58,372 --> 01:05:03,322

, I, uh, at some point I will, I feel,

I feel a little bit of a calling.

:

01:05:03,352 --> 01:05:03,562

Yeah.

:

01:05:03,892 --> 01:05:04,852

My toes into that.

:

01:05:04,882 --> 01:05:05,092

Yeah.

:

01:05:05,221 --> 01:05:07,112

, uh, but I haven't yet got.

:

01:05:07,622 --> 01:05:08,792

Lace Larry's class school.

:

01:05:08,852 --> 01:05:11,612

I haven't taken it, but I've seen

the students that I see coming out

:

01:05:11,612 --> 01:05:13,532

of class are always super hilarious.

:

01:05:13,532 --> 01:05:14,492

So it seems like a great experience.

:

01:05:14,492 --> 01:05:17,132

We have a previous guest

who took classes with lace.

:

01:05:17,162 --> 01:05:18,482

Libby and suggested them.

:

01:05:18,482 --> 01:05:20,822

And so that, it's interesting,

you're saying that because that

:

01:05:20,822 --> 01:05:24,152

seed has been planted and I think

I would definitely take hers.

:

01:05:24,512 --> 01:05:25,562

, if I were to pursue it.

:

01:05:25,922 --> 01:05:26,132

Cool.

:

01:05:26,522 --> 01:05:28,772

But I definitely like, I have

a notes app where I'm like,

:

01:05:28,802 --> 01:05:29,912

Hey, this is a funny thing.

:

01:05:30,692 --> 01:05:34,172

And I'll record voice memos of myself,

like telling jokes and stuff like that.

:

01:05:34,382 --> 01:05:35,612

Sometimes I go back and listen.

:

01:05:35,642 --> 01:05:36,212

I'm like delete.

:

01:05:37,562 --> 01:05:38,582

I'm like, there's something here.

:

01:05:40,112 --> 01:05:41,072

This can be refined.

:

01:05:41,192 --> 01:05:41,282

Absolutely.

:

01:05:41,672 --> 01:05:45,272

, so yeah, I think just humor is so

important to me because I do think

:

01:05:45,272 --> 01:05:50,812

it's a vehicle for, , diffusing tension

and it allows for conversations around

:

01:05:50,842 --> 01:05:54,412

topics that maybe are tough for people.

:

01:05:54,652 --> 01:05:55,822

And so, uh, yeah.

:

01:05:56,152 --> 01:05:58,102

Humor is just very, very,

very important to me.

:

01:05:58,132 --> 01:05:58,552

Yeah.

:

01:05:58,552 --> 01:05:58,942

Yeah.

:

01:06:00,471 --> 01:06:00,712

Yeah.

:

01:06:01,312 --> 01:06:01,492

Yeah.

:

01:06:01,522 --> 01:06:01,942

Yeah.

:

01:06:02,812 --> 01:06:04,792

, one of the things that I, uh, enjoy a lot.

:

01:06:04,882 --> 01:06:06,172

You know, I mentioned earlier.

:

01:06:06,892 --> 01:06:08,182

Uh, creating with other folks.

:

01:06:08,212 --> 01:06:08,392

Yeah.

:

01:06:08,662 --> 01:06:12,952

Uh, even if I'm just an audience

member, like a spectator, right?

:

01:06:12,982 --> 01:06:13,221

Like I draw.

:

01:06:13,402 --> 01:06:14,662

A lot of inspiration from that.

:

01:06:14,962 --> 01:06:18,922

And I think that something that I'm

really thankful for in Atlanta is

:

01:06:18,922 --> 01:06:22,582

just like the creative scene and

there's all these really cool pockets

:

01:06:22,582 --> 01:06:25,792

of artists making great stuff.

:

01:06:26,152 --> 01:06:29,572

And so something that is exciting

about the show tonight is the

:

01:06:29,572 --> 01:06:32,392

people that I'm inviting or

people that I feel that way about.

:

01:06:32,392 --> 01:06:35,572

Like when I watch them, I'm like,

wow, there's something that you

:

01:06:35,572 --> 01:06:37,072

do that inspires me in some way.

:

01:06:37,402 --> 01:06:40,792

, , so that's something that, uh, I've

drawn a lot of inspiration from,

:

01:06:40,822 --> 01:06:42,862

because I think like pre pandemic.

:

01:06:43,102 --> 01:06:45,772

I was so focused on getting on

stage as much as I could, right.

:

01:06:45,862 --> 01:06:46,012

To.

:

01:06:46,162 --> 01:06:48,232

Like get reps and to build those skills.

:

01:06:48,562 --> 01:06:51,471

And I think in slowing down from

the pandemic, something that I.

:

01:06:52,042 --> 01:06:53,602

I think was reminded of how much I enjoy.

:

01:06:53,632 --> 01:06:55,792

It was like, oh, I'm so

like watching this stuff.

:

01:06:55,882 --> 01:06:56,182

Yeah.

:

01:06:56,721 --> 01:06:57,112

For sure.

:

01:06:57,442 --> 01:07:01,162

And not just comedy, but like

going to see a movement piece or

:

01:07:01,162 --> 01:07:03,022

going to see a player going to see.

:

01:07:03,772 --> 01:07:05,512

Uh, musician or something like that.

:

01:07:05,512 --> 01:07:10,552

And so I think something that has recently

been exciting for me creatively has been

:

01:07:10,582 --> 01:07:15,322

like the role of an audience member and

finding inspiration from other folks.

:

01:07:15,471 --> 01:07:15,592

Yeah.

:

01:07:15,862 --> 01:07:17,902

Just like in different lanes than myself.

:

01:07:17,992 --> 01:07:18,292

Yeah.

:

01:07:18,802 --> 01:07:20,212

And so, so, so I'm in.

:

01:07:20,542 --> 01:07:24,322

And I really love when those, uh,

different disciplines come together.

:

01:07:24,442 --> 01:07:29,092

So like a variety show, style thing, or

even you might not even be at a variety

:

01:07:29,092 --> 01:07:31,912

show, but like, you know, like when

you're at, like, I don't know, this is

:

01:07:31,912 --> 01:07:34,462

just a random example, like you're at

a dance show or something like that.

:

01:07:34,522 --> 01:07:36,232

And there's a lot of

great dancing going on.

:

01:07:36,232 --> 01:07:38,122

You're like these people

are moving this fantastic.

:

01:07:38,302 --> 01:07:38,812

I was talking.

:

01:07:39,202 --> 01:07:41,692

And then suddenly somewhere,

someone started singing lyrics

:

01:07:41,721 --> 01:07:42,952

and you're like, what is this?

:

01:07:43,192 --> 01:07:43,492

Yeah.

:

01:07:43,852 --> 01:07:46,642

And normally it wouldn't be that

surprising on stage for someone to

:

01:07:46,642 --> 01:07:49,492

sing lyrics, but when they haven't been

singing the whole time and they start

:

01:07:49,522 --> 01:07:50,962

singing, you're like, Hey, how about that?

:

01:07:50,992 --> 01:07:51,322

Yeah.

:

01:07:51,382 --> 01:07:54,442

And there's certain shows around town

where I feel like, I feel like right

:

01:07:54,471 --> 01:07:58,992

club does this really well, where

they, , Um, invite people of different

:

01:07:58,992 --> 01:08:01,812

disciplines to come together in one space.

:

01:08:02,082 --> 01:08:03,192

And I just really love.

:

01:08:03,252 --> 01:08:05,712

You know, that, that mashup

with that, that desire.

:

01:08:06,492 --> 01:08:07,272

I love that.

:

01:08:07,272 --> 01:08:11,332

Cause I do think, , ah, There's

inspiration everywhere and

:

01:08:11,332 --> 01:08:12,862

so many unexpected places.

:

01:08:13,162 --> 01:08:15,352

And you just have to be open to it.

:

01:08:15,442 --> 01:08:17,122

And seeing people.

:

01:08:17,721 --> 01:08:19,912

Interpret things differently

and perform them.

:

01:08:19,912 --> 01:08:20,992

It's just so cool.

:

01:08:21,051 --> 01:08:24,471

And Atlanta's the, I mean, there

are issues with Atlanta, of course,

:

01:08:24,471 --> 01:08:27,502

but it's a creatively, it's such a

wonderful city to be in and we're

:

01:08:27,502 --> 01:08:30,622

surrounded by so many people who

just like are passionate and just are

:

01:08:30,622 --> 01:08:33,022

trying to put out really cool stuff.

:

01:08:33,082 --> 01:08:33,292

Yeah.

:

01:08:34,042 --> 01:08:37,551

I think it just invites all of us to

level up and just, you know, Yeah,

:

01:08:37,582 --> 01:08:39,022

produce it our best level as we can.

:

01:08:39,112 --> 01:08:39,381

Yeah.

:

01:08:39,381 --> 01:08:39,742

Yeah.

:

01:08:39,772 --> 01:08:43,912

And I think like from watching those

artists that I really enjoy a lot.

:

01:08:43,971 --> 01:08:46,761

It's informed a lot of my work

in the sense of like how I

:

01:08:46,881 --> 01:08:48,292

collaborate with folks, you know?

:

01:08:48,292 --> 01:08:48,322

Cause.

:

01:08:48,801 --> 01:08:52,402

A lot of what we do with cool,

cool productions is like, you

:

01:08:52,402 --> 01:08:54,922

know, we'll collaborate with an

organization or a company or whoever.

:

01:08:55,341 --> 01:08:58,822

And it's like, and it's not always

just comedy, but it's like, how

:

01:08:58,822 --> 01:09:00,652

can we create some sort of content.

:

01:09:01,011 --> 01:09:01,792

With you.

:

01:09:02,572 --> 01:09:06,292

To help you, you know, tell your own

story the way you want to see it told,

:

01:09:06,292 --> 01:09:10,852

you know, And so it's learning how to

work with people that may not necessarily

:

01:09:10,852 --> 01:09:14,062

be, uh, comedians or may not necessarily.

:

01:09:14,922 --> 01:09:15,582

, you know, consider.

:

01:09:16,032 --> 01:09:17,862

Do storytelling all day, every day.

:

01:09:17,922 --> 01:09:18,192

Right.

:

01:09:18,192 --> 01:09:22,362

You know, and, but they have

stories and they have a point of

:

01:09:22,362 --> 01:09:25,152

view and learning like, how can

we kind of bring this together?

:

01:09:25,232 --> 01:09:28,172

I think that's why I'm attracted to the

variety show format, because it sort of

:

01:09:28,172 --> 01:09:32,971

then shows up in the work, you know, Uh,

and that's something that's really cool.

:

01:09:32,971 --> 01:09:35,732

Like, so for example, bill and

I are working with some folks

:

01:09:35,761 --> 01:09:36,782

in the public health space.

:

01:09:36,961 --> 01:09:38,341

I don't know anything about.

:

01:09:38,792 --> 01:09:40,982

I'm learning a little bit about

it, but it's like, it's definitely

:

01:09:40,982 --> 01:09:44,881

like a new space and learning how

we each see things differently,

:

01:09:44,881 --> 01:09:46,292

but like seeing where we meet.

:

01:09:46,631 --> 01:09:48,381

, is something that's been, , really great.

:

01:09:48,412 --> 01:09:52,582

So, so yeah, like different forms

of, uh, collaboration where you're

:

01:09:52,582 --> 01:09:54,682

kind of like trying to blend

things, you know what I mean?

:

01:09:55,042 --> 01:09:57,952

Uh, that's been something that

I've really, I think I appreciated

:

01:09:57,982 --> 01:10:01,462

most about, you know, getting to

do this production company stuff.

:

01:10:01,702 --> 01:10:02,812

Oh, that sounds amazing.

:

01:10:02,872 --> 01:10:03,322

Yeah.

:

01:10:03,442 --> 01:10:04,222

That's amazing.

:

01:10:04,282 --> 01:10:04,642

Yeah.

:

01:10:05,272 --> 01:10:05,782

All of that.

:

01:10:05,872 --> 01:10:05,992

Yeah.

:

01:10:06,532 --> 01:10:07,612

Well, mark.

:

01:10:08,242 --> 01:10:09,952

I'm excited to see you

in just a couple hours.

:

01:10:11,122 --> 01:10:11,752

It's variety.

:

01:10:11,752 --> 01:10:12,112

Shout out.

:

01:10:12,522 --> 01:10:15,702

, this episode will air after

that, but I will link all of your

:

01:10:15,702 --> 01:10:16,992

information and stuff like that.

:

01:10:16,992 --> 01:10:19,752

And then I'll share it on our page today.

:

01:10:19,752 --> 01:10:21,312

So hopefully is it sold out?

:

01:10:21,702 --> 01:10:25,122

Uh, if sought out, but just like,

you know, come combine track.

:

01:10:25,602 --> 01:10:26,502

Yeah.

:

01:10:29,022 --> 01:10:29,502

Okay.

:

01:10:29,672 --> 01:10:32,282

, well, mark, will you let people

know where they can find you?

:

01:10:32,402 --> 01:10:32,912

Yeah.

:

01:10:33,092 --> 01:10:34,832

So, uh, my name is mark Kendall.

:

01:10:34,832 --> 01:10:38,112

So, , on like Instagram, if you

want to see my comedy videos and

:

01:10:38,112 --> 01:10:40,092

stuff, look at mark Kendall comedy.

:

01:10:40,422 --> 01:10:43,572

Uh, but for cool, cool

production staff, you can go to.

:

01:10:43,572 --> 01:10:43,812

Cool.

:

01:10:43,812 --> 01:10:44,052

Cool.

:

01:10:44,052 --> 01:10:44,322

Cool.

:

01:10:44,352 --> 01:10:45,522

pro.com.

:

01:10:45,882 --> 01:10:48,162

You can also look me up on LinkedIn.

:

01:10:48,522 --> 01:10:52,602

There, you know, if you want to, uh, look

at that more corporate side or whatever.

:

01:10:52,982 --> 01:10:54,602

, also I'm just around Atlanta, too.

:

01:10:54,602 --> 01:10:57,722

So I'll post about shows that I'm

doing or where I'm performing.

:

01:10:57,722 --> 01:10:58,682

So come and say hello.

:

01:10:58,772 --> 01:10:59,072

Yeah.

:

01:10:59,222 --> 01:10:59,642

Perfect.

:

01:10:59,792 --> 01:11:01,052

, And I'll link all of

that in the show notes.

:

01:11:01,052 --> 01:11:02,642

Of course also, Mark.

:

01:11:02,672 --> 01:11:04,022

Thank you so much again for your time.

:

01:11:04,022 --> 01:11:06,962

This has been so enjoyable and

such a treat to get to spend so

:

01:11:06,962 --> 01:11:08,312

much one on one time with you.

:

01:11:08,732 --> 01:11:13,502

, you can find at Clover club on

Instagram at Clover club, pod and

:

01:11:13,502 --> 01:11:18,182

friendly reminder listeners get 15%

off@hawkinsonclover.com with promo

:

01:11:18,212 --> 01:11:21,662

code Clover club, all caps and mark.

:

01:11:21,692 --> 01:11:22,502

I'll see you tonight.

:

01:11:22,562 --> 01:11:24,512

Listeners I'll hear you next week.

:

01:11:24,542 --> 01:11:25,292

And yes.

:

01:11:25,352 --> 01:11:26,312

Thank you so much.

:

01:11:26,342 --> 01:11:26,972

Thank you.

:

01:11:27,182 --> 01:11:27,842

Bye.

:

01:11:28,592 --> 01:11:28,892

Great.

:

01:11:29,312 --> 01:11:29,852

Yeah.

:

01:11:30,182 --> 01:11:31,172

This table is awesome by.

:

01:11:35,732 --> 01:11:35,912

Okay.

:

01:11:36,002 --> 01:11:37,682

As you're watching this on

the podcast wants to do.

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About the Podcast

Clover Club
Curious conversations and stories intended to make you laugh and learn.
As a shop owner and hair stylist with an impressive number of stamps on her passport, Erika Audrey has heard or experienced it all. And she's ready to share. These real life conversations and stories will make you laugh, cry, and gasp- sometimes in the same episode! Join Erika Audrey straight from Atlanta gift shop Hawkins & Clover. Welcome to Clover Club.

Thank you-
Theme Song: Nick Pantano of Sound Space https://www.soundspaceatl.com
Branding: Shari Margolin https://sharimargolindesignco.com

Contact-
pod@hawkinsandclover.com

About your host

Profile picture for Erika Audrey

Erika Audrey

Erika Audrey, a luminous presence hailing from the vibrant city of Atlanta, Georgia, is not your ordinary hairstylist and boutique owner. With a zest for life that's as contagious as her laughter, Erika is poised to take the podcasting world by storm as she embarks on her latest venture.

Launching her debut podcast is a natural extension of Erika's multifaceted personality. With an uncanny ability to seamlessly weave humor into her conversations, Erika's laughter-inducing anecdotes and razor-sharp wit are bound to captivate listeners. Her intelligence shines through as she tackles a diverse range of topics, proving that beneath the laughter lies substance and insight.