Episode 77: Breaking Barriers in Comedy | Sierra Katow | Stand-Up Comic, TV Writer & Producer
Sierra Katow is a stand-up comic, TV writer, producer, and host of the podcast Stay Podsitive. She started performing comedy at 16, went on to study computer science at Harvard, and returned to Los Angeles to build a career that blends sharp humor with thoughtful commentary. Sierra shares what it’s like to navigate the comedy world as a female Asian comic, the hustle of producing and performing across multiple platforms, and why she believes comedy is essential for building community and sparking change. She talks about the influences who inspire her, from her parents to Whoopi Goldberg, and how she’s learned to be brave, confident, and unapologetically herself on stage and off. Her journey is proof that humor isn’t just entertainment.
“I totally struggle with the perfection thing. It’s been great seeing other Powerful Ladies be comfortable in their imperfection.”
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Follow along using the Transcript
Chapters
00:00 Meet Sierra Katow
03:20 Starting Stand-Up at 16
07:45 Balancing Harvard and Comedy
12:05 From Computer Science to Comedy Writing
16:30 Landing a First Job on Take My Wife
20:15 The Hustle: Producing by Day, Performing by Night
24:40 Navigating the Industry as a Female Asian Comic
29:05 Handling Criticism and Random Comments
33:20 The Power of Community in Comedy
37:50 Influences from Whoopi Goldberg to Ali Wong
42:10 Staying Brave and Confident On Stage
46:30 Why Comedy is Essential in Good and Bad Times
51:00 Hosting the Stay Podsitive Podcast
I've been super lucky in my short career in entertainment that looking through my work history, I'm like, everyone who's hired me has been a woman, and I'm so grateful for that. And I don't think it's a coincidence, right? Like I think I'm lucky to be benefiting from women having paved the way. And then on top of that, realizing like, oh yeah, and then we can actively lift each other up.
That's Sierra Kata and this is The Powerful Ladies Podcast.
Hey guys, I'm your host, Kara Duffy, and this is The Powerful Ladies Podcast where I invite my favorite humans, the awesome, the up to something, and the extraordinary to come and share their story. I hope that you'll be left, entertained, inspired, and moved to take action towards living your most powerful life.
Sierra AU is a standup comic writer, podcast producer and host of her own podcast. Stay positive. She started in comedy at 16, then went on to Harvard to study computer science, then returned back to LA where she started in comedy writing. On this episode, we talk about how she started in comedy, who she admires, ranging from her parents to Whoopi Goldberg, and so many awesome people.
In between how she manages the random comments she gets as a female Asian comic. And what her process is to make herself feel more brave and confident when she needs to. All that, and so much more coming up. But first, being an entrepreneur or a small business owner is hard, but the good news is it's much easier when you have a coach and a community.
The Powerful Ladies online community gives you both. It's where powerful ladies and powerful entrepreneurs from around the world discover clarity, produce results, and experience success at new levels. Because together we thrive as a member, you get access to master a new skill for business. Every month, network, brainstorm and collaborate with like-minded women.
Get access. To Powerful Ladies events, our library resources and more. Participate in group coaching and workshops led by a multi entrepreneur business coach, and you get the accountability and inspiration to stay on track and make it happen. Join today@thepowerfulladies.com.
Well welcome so much to The Powerful Ladies Podcast. Hey, good to be here. I'm very excited. Me too. Uh, Jordan recommended you 'cause she knows what a powerful lady you are working, uh, on some of the podcasts that she does. So let's begin by telling the audience who you are and what you're up to. Yeah. Um, yeah,
so I know Jordan.
From, uh, the podcast query with Cameron Esposito, which is a podcast that I produce, and Jordan is our audio engineer. And Cameron Esposito is the host. Um, and yeah, it's sort of fun. I like know her in that capacity and she's amazing. And, um, I guess outside of podcasting, I do standup comedy, so that's kinda how I met Cameron, who's the host of that podcast.
And I do TV writing, mainly comedy writing. And, um, I host my own podcast called Stay Positive, which is, you know. It's a pun. It's fun. Um, and yeah, and so that's kinda like where I come from. Awesome. How did you, how did you meet Cameron? Yeah, so I got to meet her, I think kind of my first job in LA doing entertainment was working as the writer's assistant for her show.
That was called Take My Wife. It was on cso, which then, then it, I don't know, that disappeared, you know, as many of these platforms do, but it. I think available on stars still. So, you know, it made it onto a platform somewhere. Um, but yeah, so that was really cool. Uh, I think, you know, I owe her a lot. I think you always know going into an industry you're kind of at the mercy of like, if people are willing to give you that chance.
And especially in entertainment where it does feel kinda like almost an apprenticeship based situation sometimes. Um, and mm-hmm. So yeah. So then basically I worked for her, uh, in that capacity in a writer's room. And that was like my first kind of writer, entertainment, um, real job. So, yeah. And then from there I helped her with the podcast when that went off the ground.
Um, are you from LA originally? No, I am. So that's kind of like how I got into standup comedy. I grew up in, um, sort of northeast LA so a little outside of actual Los Angeles. But um, yeah, and my family has been here for a long time, so it's kind of always been home. Um, and then I kind of knew I wanted to do comedy, I guess.
Thought standup was like a fun way to get into it. So I started when I was like 16, I would go to the comedy clubs and you know, they'd make you stand outside 'cause it's not legal for you to be inside, I guess, unless you're on stage. So yeah, so that was kinda like how I started in all that. And I think it helped, um, yeah, being from here because it's, you know, a drive away, granted.
Standup is in pretty much every city now. So, um, but it was like encouraging I think, to know that like, oh, just down the street there's the comedy store or whatever, not down the street. It was quite a drive, but, you know. Yeah.
Of all the things that, um, a little girl dreams of, how did you end up doing improv, or sorry, doing comedy and doing standup of all things?
Yeah. Um, I think I always, I don't know, I always loved. Laughter, like laughing. I think I was lucky to grow up in a family where I think we. Valued humor. And I, I remember like my grandpa, my mom's dad was like super funny. And so we always knew like, oh yeah, if you crack a joke, like, you know, it lightens the mood.
It makes family stuff a lot easier. And, um, I didn't really know standup comedy was. A job. I mean, who does? Mm-hmm. Right. I don't even know if it still is now. Um, but uh, yeah, I think I remember watching like Ellen DeGeneres on television and being like, oh, interesting. So she talked for an hour and there are a lot of jokes and apparently you could just do that.
So I think it was a cool way to, you know, see that you can just be funny and you don't have to really do anything else really. You just kind of talk and be funny. And that's. Mm-hmm. Stand
up and to start at such a, such a young age. I mean, um, everyone's like going to, I'm sort of like sports or other activities.
Mm-hmm. And, um, piano lessons or dance or you know, basketball, and you're like, well, I'm gonna go and wait until I'm allowed into the comedy club for a couple hours. Right. Like, how did you get the confidence that you could do it? Or that like, it's like, I feel like comedy is such a, there's so much bravery.
Especially when you're starting because you know, you hope people laugh and you don't know. So like how, what was that like when you're starting and how has that changed to where you're at now?
Yeah. Oh, um, I mean, to be fair, I did also play basketball. So, you know, I clearly had a future there. Um, I'm still five foot one and then I was definitely under four feet.
But anyway, I think, yeah, it was like a fun thing I think that I always liked. Um. I did a lot of like student government as a kid, so I always had to give speeches and I liked the ability to like talk to a lot of people at once and I knew that humor, you know, could help get those votes and all that fun stuff.
So, so I think it was kind of like it wasn't too far from maybe what I was kind of doing and uh, because it was also kind of separate from. My school life, it didn't feel like the stakes were that high, you know? Mm-hmm. You can, and still today, like if you go to an open mic or you go perform, and maybe your day job is something completely different, you really don't have to tell anyone.
You know, you could just go, oh, oops, I bombed for three minutes. Didn't happen. Sorry. You know, like you, you just, I think I definitely like the anonymity. That I had at the beginning too, and, and still, you know, so I think it wasn't as scary as it sounds, you know? I mean, of course if you're performing in front of all your closest family friends and, and your mom and dad or something, then it's gonna be a little different.
Um, but if you just go and do it, I think I felt like it was, you know, starting fresh and it didn't feel like a big, scary thing.
And did you just show up and say it's, you know, an open mic night and I want a slot? Or did you have to, you know, make connections at the different comedy clubs to especially being underage, like to let you perform?
You know, I think for the most part. You can just show up. I think the underage thing, you know, maybe becomes a problem at some of the bigger clubs, which of course then you kind of learn, okay, obviously I can't go in. But they have, I think enough underage like aspiring comics where they figure out that system.
Um mm-hmm. So, you know, sometimes I would be out there alone, but sometimes I'd be like one other younger, you know, comic who I could kind of commiserate with and then we'd both go in when we, when our time was, you know, happening. Um, but yeah, I think the great thing about open mics and about. Comedy standup specifically is, it doesn't feel like it's as.
Um, gatekeepery as a lot of other, uh, entertainment things. And so as a result, yeah, you don't really have to know anyone. I mean, that also turns it into a just mayhem of randos, you know? Um, yeah. So that's the downside. But yeah, I think it was cool and I liked the DIY aspect of like, yeah, just go and do it, and the only person stopping you is you.
And you know, of course you gotta be funny, but, um,
mm-hmm.
Generally speaking, it's not like, oh, I know a guy who can get me into this open mic. You know?
Yeah. And how did you make the leap from, you know, from doing comedy to writing and then to podcasting? Sure. Yeah. I
mean, I think they're all kind of related, so.
Mm-hmm. It never felt like a big pivot or anything big, but I, um, I knew kind of from doing standup and a lot of standups do eventually maybe find work in TV writing and things like that, and it feels like another way to be funny. Um. Mm-hmm. And podcasting, of course. So I kind of, uh, when I was in. You know, first starting at standup, I kind of knew, okay, maybe how do I get into TV writing or entertainment.
I eventually went to Harvard and went into the Harvard Lampoon, which was like a yeah, creepy institution of, you know, mainly, uh, you know, I don't know. There's a long history obviously of mm-hmm. Comedy writers going into the Lampoon and then writing for television. That has changed a lot because obviously I think there's sort of this.
Um, lore of, oh, you go and work for the Lampoon, and then you go and write for the Simpsons, and then you're set for life, which is of course that worked for maybe, you know, a group of white males in the seventies and they're still there, which is mm-hmm.
Of
course how it works. And then, and then, you know, since then, I think the, um.
I think people are learning about the fact that like, you know, getting into, into entertainment needs to be democratized a little bit more and like stuff like that. But, um, at the time that seemed like a pretty. You know, exciting path. And so I worked really hard to go through that process. And then from there, you know, it wasn't all quite clear 'cause I don't think it's, you know, it's still, I think it was a humor magazine mainly with Lampoon and I did a lot of drawing for it.
And you know, I was still doing standup so it kind of was like, okay, I guess I'm kind of learning these different ways to be funny still. Um, but I think from there I was surrounded by a lot of other. Young people and students who were interested in the same, oh, maybe we could, you know, write for TV one day.
So I think that's what helped is a sense of like mm-hmm. You know, I was, I was a computer science major, so I as many like career things were available of like, oh, hey, maybe you could get into this program and then you go work for a big tech company and yada yada, that doesn't really exist for comedy. Um, so mm-hmm.
I think, you know. I had the luxury and privilege of living, uh, having grown up in la. So I moved back home out here and sort of used my standup comedy to meet people and then mm-hmm. Figure out from there how to write for tv. And I started, of course, writer's assistant sort of in these assistant capacities, which people say is a good way to, you know, move your way up.
And since then have been able to write. But, um, but yeah, I mean it's like, I think. I've seen people do it different ways too, so, so yeah, I guess that was kind of like looking back, I'm like, okay, I guess I kind of at least was able to go in that path. Mm-hmm. And here we are, and I think podcasting is like the.
Opposite almost, where you can do it yourself in a way, you know, of course it can't. There's certain quality audio levels at which you can do it yourself, but I think it, it just really appealed to sort of the entrepreneurial spirit of like, Hey, yeah, just like no one can tell you, you can't do this open mic.
No one can tell you you can't do this podcast if you wanna be a big movie star. Yes, lots of people can tell you can't be that. But I think it was like a. Cool way to still do comedy without waiting for somebody to tell me I can.
Mm-hmm. Um, and yeah. Is there a show out, uh, right now that would be like, you would be a dream show for you to write on?
Sure. Um. You know
what is weird is like, okay, definitely. I think I would love to write for like show a show I'm a fan of. I love like succession. I think it's just like a really funny show too. Mm-hmm. On top of being like a riveting like drama, family drama. Um, so maybe that, but I think a lot of like.
Especially being a writer now is writing your own projects and then mm-hmm. You know, making essentially the show that you want to see too. Yes. And so, you know, I have a couple projects that, like, you write a pilot, like the first episode of your series and so, you know, sending those around, you have to again, wait for somebody to tell you, yes, we're making this.
Mm-hmm. Um, but if that could happen, that would be great. And a lot of them are. You know, very autobiographical and, um
mm-hmm.
Kind of like the sort of more extreme version of yourself. So in the way that I guess like Curb Your Enthusiasm is like an extreme version of literary David, so they say or whatever.
Yeah. Um, that sort of, I think a lot of comedians dreams. Um, but yeah, something I share for sure, I think a huge part of doing this is. You know, representation. And I think, you know, I grew up with very little, uh, Asian American representation granted more than, uh, years ago. Right. So, yeah, and I think that's become really exciting in the past few years.
So I think it's always about, you know, trying to write your story and something about like. Your particular perspective. And so that would be mm-hmm. The dream. But yeah,
I can only imagine how many comedy bits can come out of Harvard and being a, you know, computer science major and like to be sitting in those classes already with the com, the comedic perspective, and watching some of this happen before you were like, does no one else see this right now?
Like this? Is its own show.
Sure, yeah. A lot, a lot to come out of that environment. I think also the, mm-hmm. You know, just the sort of way in which that place was very, like everyone's insane anti pei. But then at the same time, like the whole world is like that. I think the more years that I have. Away from that, you know, environment.
It's just like, I think we all turned into that. We're just, everyone's very, uh, you know, go gittery and it's hilarious because mm-hmm. You know, here we are now also just stuck inside. So it's just like seeing all of us unravel slowly as we're trying to like do our regular lifestyles.
Yes. How has being in quarantine affected you personally?
Yeah. Um, I mean, I feel extremely lucky. Uh, I like. Have a place, and I am still, I'm writing for like a animated show right now. So that's still going. And it's kind of one of the only things that are still allowed to keep production going because it's, you know, you could draw a alone. Um, and yeah. Yeah. So that's been, uh, all over Zoom, which is the new writer's room.
And then a lot of, I guess a lot of standup shows have turned into a Zoom show. Mm-hmm. So. I actually just ordered a microphone that's like a stand and everything, which is so embarrassing. It's like I, no, just, I guess I miss the microphone stand, but no, it's, uh, you know, it's like come in handy if I'm doing another one of these Zoom shows and I wanna, you know, make it feel like more of a standup show.
But, um, mm-hmm. So those have happened and they're not the best, but, uh, you know, we're learning. You'll have like somebody in the zoom grid, like. Start talking to their roommate or something, and then like every, like, it's, it's like heckling, but it's just in a different zone. Mm-hmm. It's so strange.
Um. I guess you wanna leave, you don't wanna mute them 'cause you wanna hear them laughing, but you also don't want them to talk, so you're like Hmm.
To mute or not mute.
Exactly. Yeah. It's, it's strategic. I think you have to like, find your designated laughers and then mute everyone else apparently. Um,
that's a strategy. Mm-hmm. You're planting a few laughers, you know, will laugh into the zooms to get everyone else going. Yeah. That's smart, right?
Mm-hmm.
I mean, that's. That's life. You know, you're just gonna find your designated, uh, support and mm-hmm. Put it all in them.
Yes. I, I appreciate the strategy to the Zoom. 'cause when, um, we recorded a camera and we were talking about her going over to Zoom. Yeah. Yeah. And she's like, Hmm, I don't know. I don't know.
And to me, I think it's, I, and I guess mostly what I do on Zoom is much more like. Lecture or discussion guiding base. Cool. So it's different half the time I'm talking and I'm like, I don't know if anyone's listening. I just keep going and we'll see what happens at the q and a. Um, but yeah, to, to be, I've never been in a situation where I'm like, really hoping that people are interactive.
That isn't live either, so Right. Just be like throwing out jokes and being like, where did it go?
Yeah. Yeah. You don't, it's, it's hard to know if it's you or if it's. The technology. I like to blame the technology to say, I know I'm hilarious. Uh, just everybody's laughing, but they're all muted. That's probably what's going on.
Mm-hmm. Yeah. What do you think people will be most surprised about, um, either in podcasting or in comedy that people just don't know is happening that you experience on a regular basis?
Oh,
interesting. Um. Like in quarantine or just generally you, we could have an answer for in and outta quarantine if you had enough answers.
Mm-hmm. Cool. Cool. Um, yeah, I don't know. I mean, I guess like generally and, and something I've discovered while in quarantine as I think like everybody, like there's so many funny people out there and I think people, you know, we get our, uh, if you're just. Kind of a comedy fan, but you're not like super plugged in.
It might be you check Netflix and you look at all those specials. Maybe you're on YouTube a lot. And YouTube is a great place where like a lot of, you know, up and coming comedians can get their videos up and stuff. But I don't know. And then I'm, I'm on like, I'm watching tiktoks now and I feel like, I'm like, wow.
There's like some really funny people out there, just like out in the world. I even watch like this, um, Japanese reality show called Terrace House, which is really popular on Netflix. Mm-hmm. And there, there's like. It's all subtitles and I, I don't understand Japanese, so I'm just reading it, but like it's hilarious.
And those comedians, it does translate in a way that I'm, mm-hmm. I guess I'm surprised. I'm probably so sheltered 'cause I just lived in the US and I really just expected comedy to be local and cultural and like this and that. But I guess I'm learning, and maybe people already know this, but that just.
It's very universal, more universal than we think. Even though some things may not translate and like a lot of people are funny and it's not mm-hmm. Reserved for like the few chosen ones who get their Netflix thing or their HBO special. It's like really something that I think everyone's kind of. Tuning into now that we, you know, we kind of need humor, I think, right now more than mm-hmm.
More than maybe a few years ago. Um, and so maybe that's why, uh, it's surfacing more, but
mm-hmm.
Yeah.
Um, sorry, I, we've been recording podcasts all day, so my, uh Oh yeah. Yeah. Get my, my makeshift stool is, uh, really getting to the point where it's like, how much longer is the stay going on? I'm,
I, yeah. Lots of respect for using a stool.
I feel like that's, it's the toughest of the seating arrangements. Yes,
yes. It's mostly based on having to make it up in, in the bedroom in a corner. Right. Oh, right, right. Yes. Good. How do we make this all work right here? I, I like the backdrop though. Very good. Oh, thank you. Very nice display
there.
The, the Bureau.
Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yes. Excellent. It was that, or staring at my back from the mirror back at, so that would've been a little trippy. Ooh. Yeah. Yeah,
yeah. The
infinite mirror thing. Yes. Infinite powerful ladies. Great. Um, when you think of the, the words powerful and ladies, and when you think of it combined, what does it mean to you and what does it make you think of?
Ooh, yeah, I mean,
I think powerful. Okay, so powerful ladies together for me. I mean, I, I, I did hear that you asked this question podcast, so I'm like, oh, I had something prepared, but now I'm blanking. No, but I think it, I think I've been so lucky and we talked about Cameron earlier and like how that's how I met Jordan and I think, you know, just, um.
I've been super lucky in my short career in entertainment and stuff that like, honestly, looking through my work history, I'm like, everyone who's hired me has been a woman. And I'm so grateful for that. And I don't think it's a coincidence, right? Like, I think I'm lucky to be benefiting from women having paved the way.
Uh, and then on top of that, realizing like, oh yeah, and then we can actively lift each other up and mm-hmm. Um, and you know, and I think that a lot of it is, is that, and a lot of it is like the. What I really get out of it too is like seeing women in powerful positions. And I think that's really valuable because, um, you know, from the get go it's like I get to see Cameron running her own show.
I get to see all these other folks like being in head writer positions or in producer positions. Mm-hmm. And um, and I think what that's been really cool is to realize that like, you know. You can demand things that are good for the project and you don't have to worry about the sort of likability of it, which I think has been a thing that I really struggle with a lot.
And I think it's, you know, and I think it also being a comedian, you're constantly like, do people like me, are they laughing on the Zoom? You know, are they, are they thinking that I'm a nice person? And it's like. Too much. Right? It's too much to think about. And I think it's been really nice seeing women like not worry about that.
Just knowing that, okay, I can get to a place where that's not the utmost importance. Mm-hmm. Because you're here to get the job done, or you're here to like make a good project happen or whatever other purpose there is. Right. And then, yeah. And then also like. I, I, this thing that kind of came up with I think tech and stuff is that, uh, I remember hearing that like in coding.
Mm-hmm.
Girls, like girls coding lesson or whatever, school or whatever, like the girls would. Tend to maybe ask for help, but when they did, they would have like a blank screen, meaning like they had deleted all their code, so they wanted to rather have nothing available to be corrected.
Mm-hmm. Um,
instead of being like, here's the code I wrote didn't work, uh, can you help me?
So I think that was like a great metaphor for like, ah. I totally struggle with the whole perfection thing. You know, we're trying to display this like we got it together, you know, which is like enhanced by social media and I think it's been really valuable seeing powerful ladies also be comfortable in their imperfection and yeah.
And then, you know, go from there. And I think that's like. What, uh, yeah, perfection is not necessarily powerful. Um mm-hmm. Yeah. So those things.
Awesome. Um, you know, obviously with so much changing and going on, like do you, how do you feel comedy in particular is changing for the better and how do you wish it was changing faster?
Mm-hmm. Yeah. Um, I think it's definitely. What I like about is I think there's, um, a lot of introducing your own personal into your comedy, which I think was always mm-hmm. The case to some degree, but I think it's definitely more, uh, emphasized more and like people are looking for that. Um, I remember like kind of when I was in college and thinking about comedy and working alongside other like comedy writing types, that there was a little bit of hesitance of like, okay, well I don't know if I like bring up.
Like race here, you know what I mean? Like there's sort of like a weird thing where I needed to be neutral or as mm-hmm. The voice, whatever. You have to have a neutral voice. But neutral just means what? Straight white man. I don't know. What does that mean? Um, so I think it's been really good moving towards like, okay, you have to introduce your voice and who you are.
Mm-hmm. And that's like, makes it funnier, honestly, because the more specific, the better it is, the more universal it is, the funnier it is. Um. So that's been really cool. Um, but yeah, I mean, I think there's weird stuff still going on. You know, I think, I think people, um, are just, it's a, it's a bla uh, whatever.
It's a broader. Commentary on what's going on. But I think, you know, people are still like, ugh, so tired of this, and then they kind of recede into their faction. So I think there are a lot of comedic factions happening. Um mm-hmm. I recall when, like the whole, uh, so, oh, what's his name? Okay, I'm glad I forgot his name because it's not important.
But the SNL, uh. Cast member who was cast and then it was surfaced that in his podcast he said like Asian racial slurs, uh, against Chinese people and Chinatown and New York or Philadelphia. And he essentially, um. You know, it was also added to Saturday Night Live, right when the first Asian cast member or full Asian cast member was added Bone Yang.
And so yeah, there's like a big pushback obviously. 'cause it was like pretty bad. Like it's like someone going, mm-hmm. You know, you find in some bad racial slurs on someone's podcast. So he was not tired. And then. Um, you know, and then kind of that sort of thing turned into, oh, well now he has a huge following because everybody's freedom of speech.
You should, you're, I guess, entitled to be on SNL if you say racial slurs. Um, so anyway, yeah, that was, um, mm-hmm. An interesting awakening because it was very much, you know, in the community that I am tapped into. But seeing that like, okay, wow, there is still like a huge backing behind something that I wouldn't necessarily.
Be behind, which means there are, are a lot of different growing factions of comedy. So I would hope that there would be a way to like merge all of these in some way, in a way that goes towards where we wanna be headed. But, you know, I, I think that's a larger question about the state of the Union. Mm-hmm.
Um, yeah. So that's a little. Shouldn't be or whatever, not moving as fast as we'd hope, you know? Yeah.
For, uh, someone who hasn't heard your comedy before, how would you describe kind of your. Your vibe of comedy that you, you share with the, the world?
Oh, yeah. Um, yeah, I don't know. I mean, still figuring it out, you know, it's like mm-hmm.
It, it does, I, I love to talk about personal stuff, as I've said, you know, I think that makes it, yeah, more powerful, but also I. I get worried about plagiarism, so I just feel like if you're talking about something that happened to you, like nobody can really accuse you of that. Um, and I also, you know, I think I've been told I'm kind of more, I'm not like, uh, I'm a little bit more low energy comedy, maybe a little bit.
More about, uh, saying kind of little jokes quietly, um, rather than, you know, I, I, I admire and love physical comedy, but I think it's very hard, so it's not where I gravitate towards. Mm-hmm. Um, but yeah, I think, and then, you know, the more I think we, the more I'm learning about it, I think I. I like the idea of also having something to say and having like an underlying thing you're trying to get through to the audience.
Um mm-hmm. I do, I remember I did a show in Wisconsin in this small town where, um, one of my friends is from, and we did like a big show for like basically this entire, like a lot of the small town and they had like a gun raffle before, like it was very different from like what I know. Yeah. They were, yeah, they had like.
Rifles in the back, like, yeah, and so then pick up your rifle and then watch this comedy show. I was like, okay, well that puts the pressure on. We know we gotta please. Um, and you know, and it was kind of one of those things where I was trying to get through to them. Uh, you know, Asians, they're just like you.
Um, no, but it was, you know, and they, they laughed. It was really fun. I think afterward there were still some things where they would be like, oh yeah, you know, uh, we harvest a lot of ginseng root here. And I'd be like, oh, oh. I mean, I've had Arizona iced tea, so I know what you're talking about, but it was like very strange.
Um, and then I went back as. Second year, and I think I called them out on that, like the fact that they were kind of like talking to me about some weird Asian thing that like they assumed I would know, and they laughed at that. And so, I don't know. I thought it was an interesting experiment where I'm like, okay.
Mm-hmm. Certainly sometimes you can't. Totally be on the same page, but, um, I think we're becoming more aware of mm-hmm. What we're doing. And if I can break through that with comedy, that's fun. Mm-hmm. And the only way I know how to communicate, probably so
it works. Yes. So you're, you're on a, you're producing Cameron's podcast now.
Yes. And you have your own, what made you wanna start your own podcast? Oh, I mean, definitely, you know,
watching Cameron. It's been so fun. I mean, she's such a natural at hosting, so there was sort of this thing where it's like, well of course it's gonna be good every time. You know, when you'll watch her do it.
And you got Jordan and you know, and I think, um. I had always been a fan of podcasts, but I think a lot of what I like about it is the, you know, sort of DIY aspect, and I think I just figured, you know what, it's a fun way I could just talk to friends if I don't feel comfortable, you know? Mm-hmm. Branching out too much yet, and, um, it felt like a pretty.
Easy way to, I guess, get started at least. Um, not that podcasting is easy necessarily, but it is kind of like a good intro to just do it at like a low level and then maybe I can build my way up. But also it's like a huge thing I think with entertainment and comedy that it's like you kind of feel like you have to be, have you have to have something that you're working on or whatever.
You really don't like, you're, you know, the odds of you like, oh, I've got a movie coming out. Or like, oh, I have a TV show coming out. Like, sure, people are doing that all the time, but not me. You know, it's definitely few and far between. So I think it was like an awesome way to just have like an ongoing project to have.
So it feels like, you know, we get to control what we're making and putting out there. Um. Mm-hmm. And a big part of like, I think standup too is like sometimes I'll film a thing and they'll put it on YouTube or whatever, and I don't really have control of like what bits that they decide to edit together and put out there.
Yeah. And then, you know, sometimes it could be like, oh yeah, I mean I like that other joke better. Or, you know, they didn't. There's one where it's like they didn't make the audience, so I really sound like I'm bombing, but I'm pretty sure I wasn't. Like, so, you know, it's kind of just nice to have control over what content you're putting out there that mm-hmm.
Is you, but also, you know, with other people and such, so, yeah. Yeah.
Um, when you look at the journey that you've had, uh, I don't know anyone, I don't know any women especially who. Went to Harvard and are now comedians. Um, how does, how did that fit into your path and, um, what made you decide to go to school when you were already like, getting into the comedy space when you were still in high school?
Oh, sure. Yeah. I mean, I, I think I was such a nerd and, you know, student, uh, that there was gonna be. Like, I, I think I, I couldn't pass up the opportunity, but also, you know, I think there was such a, uh, there's actually such a comedy culture at Harvard mm-hmm. That, um, that it's, there are a few others, you know, who came out of that, whether they're TV writers or comedians or performers.
Mm-hmm. Um, but yeah, I mean, I guess it. It was definitely like, you know, being the good student, being like, well, you know, at the end of the day, maybe I'll just work in tech and be good. And then we'll be good. We'll put our heads down. We're gonna just type the code. Get outta here. Um, but I did know, I think I, I just.
Felt like I had seen my whole life going down one path, which was I learned how to code and I enjoy it. And I guess like, you know, when I, if I tell people I'm a computer science major, they stop asking questions and they say, yep, good for you. And then I continue down this path that I could just see the next, you know, 10 years or whatever.
And you're kind of like, I just felt a little. Trapped by that. Mm-hmm. And I like the unknown of doing something where you just really don't know what's going on. Like if I know what I'm doing for the next year, that's even a little scary now because, you know, I think there is, most jobs in entertainment are like, tops, maybe six months, you know, and mm-hmm.
Even that's long. Um, so I think there's just, yeah, I kind of just turned into this thing where, you know, I did enjoy being, uh. At the student at the school and like all I learned there and all the people I met, of course, right. Like that's what everybody says about college experiences or the sort of young adult experiences.
It's the people you meet. And I'm forever grateful for that. And everyone that I met like went on different paths and, and has like a really different fire and it's really like incredible to watch, you know? But yeah, I think I just, yeah, I wanted to do something a little bit different and I was. Lucky and privileged enough where I could take that chance, you know?
'cause I know that's a big deal and I. Just, I also kind of felt this thing too, where I was like, you know, when I was younger, I think who made the most impact on me? It was like a lot of seeing people in comedy who made me laugh and, um, I felt like that was important work and mm-hmm. You know, as much as say, my other path was tech or something like, I think that's also very important work and can be, but I don't know if I would've found myself in the right place.
I think it would've been very tempting to go down a path that was comfortable and make a lot of money and then you work for like in corporation that then upends the democracy. Um, so then you kind of, so I just wouldn't wanna like give myself that option, I guess. Mm-hmm. It kind of felt like it might be.
Um, dangerous.
Yeah, and I think it's brave, right? To choose the path that could be versus the path that maybe people think should be, um, because of, you know, culture or families or just what, you know, everyone else says makes the logical sense. There's so many people who do the, the shit path and wake up one day and realize that it was never meant to be theirs.
Sure. So to, to see that so early I think is, um, is insightful for yourself and also just, you know, brave to choose like, Nope, I'm gonna go this path. Like, I don't know necessarily what it looks like. I don't know where it's gonna go, but that's way more exciting than that one that I can see 25 years down the road.
Mm-hmm. Um, in addition to Cameron and, um, Ellen, I believe you said earlier, like, who else has really inspired you in the comedy space? Sure, yeah. I mean,
definitely growing up, let's see, who did I see early on? I know Amy Schumer was like, kind of, it was like before her sketch show, and then that kind of hit, and then it was like, oh, wow.
Hilarious. Um, Sarah Silverman. Mm-hmm. I guess. I think, yeah. Who else at that time? Anthony Jasel, Nick.
Mm-hmm.
Um, yeah, just a lot of standup comedians, of course. And then more recently, I think like Ally Wong. Mm-hmm. Kind of, you know, she'd been around for a while, but then with Netflix blew up and that's been really cool to see.
And yeah. And then I think on like the TV comedy level, you know, um, sort of. Like Phoebe Waller Bridge or Issa Rae. Mm-hmm. And people who are able to, you know, use stories and make you laugh that way and stuff. And so yeah, all those, all those folks. So anyone really who, anyone who's been doing it has.
Mm-hmm. You know, we've kind of. Cross paths with or whatever, like you, you basically are always kind of, I, I, I remember early on too, it was like, now so much is available to watch, but early on it was a lot of like using like Google video search to be like, how can I find the drags of Sarah Silverman's, like standup film on like somebody's random flip phone or something.
Mm-hmm. And um, yeah, and that's just become more and more. I guess of a thing. Um, mm-hmm. And, you know, and then people who have kind of like personally been great too is like, uh, Eliza Skinner, um, hired me on my first staff writer job, and she's a comedian who also writes a lot. So it's kind of been cool to see that, you know, somebody who's been able to do both and, um, and yeah, I guess, yeah, I mean, basically anyone who's.
Made it has probably been an influence. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
And who outside of comedy do you, do you admire and has inspired you? Oh wow. Um,
well, gosh, well I love that you guys are sisters because it just makes me so happy. And, um, and I, you know, I owe so much to my older. And, uh, Melissa shout out. Uh, she, you know, I, she was like five and a half years older, so she kind of was like this more maternal figure for a long time.
Mm-hmm. I looked up to, and she still kind of is because I think she just like, has hit so many life milestones and like, feels like a together adult. Um, so, you know, despite it not being that old, but it's like, yeah, I think, you know, I owe a lot to my sister and my parents. Who, um, were very actually supportive through all the craziness, you know?
I mean, I think a lot of convincing was done, but I think I was lucky mm-hmm. That they themselves liked comedy. You know, there was like a lot of, oh yeah, we used to go on dates at the Laugh Factory, like, oh, weird. Don't tell me that. No, but it was helpful. Um, and then, yeah, and then, um. I, I guess like outside of comedy, you know, I've always been a big, I think I'm noticing now, but I was very, uh, I, I watch a lot of the view, which is like hilarious.
Mm-hmm. Um, 'cause it sounds super weird, I think, but it's like, great. I think it's like a great way to get your news from like women and people who aren't gonna, you know. Mm-hmm. Inflame things too much, hopefully. Um, but a big Whoopi Goldberg fan, so that's probably why. So I think just, uh, people who kind of blazed their own trails in a field that maybe isn't normally mm-hmm.
You know, there for them kind of thing is really cool. Um, so yeah, my family and Whoopi Goldberg,
I mean, this is the best list I've ever heard. We've got Cameron, Ellen, Whoopi Goldberg, and your family. Yeah. Yeah. Basically, you know, I think it's. Fully rounded out. Yeah. You've got a little bit of everything in that mix.
Mm-hmm. I mean, it's basically like, how cool would it be to have them as like godmothers? Right.
Too much to handle. You know, Uhhuh couldn't look up to it, but
yeah, that'd be great. Well, I hope one day you get to have all three of them on. Well, three being Cameron, Ellen, and Whoopi all on your podcast at the same time.
Oh, sure. I would love, that'll work to see that panel happen.
Mm-hmm.
Thank
you for, yeah, that's a
great idea. I
hadn't thought of
that before, but I, I gotta send those emails. Yes, you, you never know what's possible. Right, Jordan. Yes. Um, so prior to, um, you know, everything COVID-19, what were your goals for 2020 and what were you kind of going after and then how has that changed?
Uh, yes.
Well, definitely, you know, I wanted to do a, uh. A rave with all the sweatiest people? No, I'm just saying, uh, no, for COVID. Yeah. I think my goals for 2020, I mean, a lot were standup related, obviously. Mm-hmm. Which kind of feels halted, but you know, it's, it's figuring itself out in other ways. But, um, but you know, I, I always have been wanting to do like a late night set, um, on a show with the live audience kind of thing.
Yeah. I. I did a, like, I did one for last call with Carson Daley, which is like the old, like now it's Lily Singh, which is dope because she's so funny. But, um, but it was like hilarious because I think we filmed it and my parents came to the taping and they like got. I edited into like, everyone's like, you know how when you do a comedy show and then you show the audience laughing and there were like another one, they like featured them very heavily.
They're like, this middle-aged Asian couple finds this funny. I love it. Um, but yeah, so, so that one was like, does it, that one was like a late night set I guess, but you know mm-hmm. It's not as the La Conan or whatever the, the one where you're front facing and everything. So that's always been a goal of mine.
Um. But yeah, I mean, I think I wanted to do a lot more with my own writing and I think, like, there are a couple projects I worked on with writing partners that I had been, you know, we had been pitching around, which is cool. But I think I, you know, wanted to be able to focus on something where I could do it myself a little bit.
Um, not so much in the like, oh, me, me, me. But it more of the like, you know, I think they were definitely the shepherds of. Teaching me how to do certain things like story and how to write this way and this and that. And that was like such a great, um, sort of crash course in writing.
Mm-hmm.
And so I think I was hoping to like apply that and I think, you know, we still can.
Yes. Given that we can write alone all day if we want to. Um, so, so yeah, I think something along the lines of like writing my own script, um. Using that, those skills, because I guess I've written before, but you know, you read your old stuff and you're just like, who is this? This is so embarrassing. Um, and, and then, yeah, on top of that, I guess like continuing to do more with my own, um, podcast, but also kind of like branching out of that personality wise.
Like, I don't know, I think I still struggle with, um, not being comfortable. Even podcasting or doing, um, standup. You know, I get rusty if I haven't gone up in a while, and I think stage presence has always been like kind of the, the harder thing for me, whereas like mm-hmm. You know, I can write a joke and that's fun and I kind of have that and know my style.
But I think a lot of, um, I admire a lot of comedians, like I said before, that are like physical comedians or ones who are a little bigger and louder. And I, I kind of think that's sort of a general like direction that I'm interested
in. Mm-hmm. Um. And I personally love where women's comedy is going. Yeah.
Because, you know, there's so much, um, there's kind of like the greats and all the greats so far, you know, historically have been men and they have a very specific style and like perspective and I'm like, there's so much more about life. That is hilarious. Totally. Yeah. So I'm glad. I think it's, oh, go ahead.
Oh yeah. No, I think that's like a huge superpower that we have, like mm-hmm.
It's just
not, everything's been done already, so
there's a lot to be covered. So much, so much. Yeah. It's like, is it superpower or cheating? Maybe a little bit of both. And we're gonna take advantage. Um, so we ask everyone on the podcast where they put themselves in the powerful lady scale, zero average, everyday human, 10 most powerful lady that you could imagine.
And I asked people to rate themselves both for how they feel today, um, and then also how they feel like on every average day. And I've realized recently that apparently I think that being on the podcast with us should make you feel extra, um, which hopefully it made you feel. So let's see. Oh, definitely.
Where are you today? And where are you at on average?
Okay. Okay. Yeah, I mean, I think doing this with, uh, two powerful ladies, and it's called Powerful Ladies. Uh, yeah. Today I feel, I mean, you know, I, I feel like I can't get too high because I do wanna like get there eventually, and it's like, well, if that's it, then where are we headed, right?
Um, so I think probably like a. Probably like a five today, and then on average, probably like a six. Mm-hmm. Or a five. Mm-hmm. You know, we're, because it's like, well, zero is every day, so it's not, it's not like a lump on a log. What is it? Bump on a log. Bump on a log, yeah. So yeah, zero is average then? Yeah.
Maybe around there.
Mm-hmm.
Five and
a six. I like it. Um, when you look at what you do, 'cause I mean, comedy of course requires confidence, right? Just to walk out onto that stage, and I think, you know, writing does as well, podcasting does. What are some things that you do to get yourself into, um, the confidence level?
You need to like, walk out into the bright lights. You have a routine. Is there a song? Is there, like, do you phone a friend? What, what's your routine to make sure that. You can get back into that place where you feel powerful.
Oh, I, yeah, I don't know. 'cause I don't really have like a routine, I think 'cause I, because I think one of my techniques was like, oh, if I make it a little deal, so maybe that's a routine.
If I make this not seem like a big deal to me, then like I'm good. You know, that's like a kind of a bad tactic at the end of the day. But, but um, yeah, I mean I think a lot of it is like trying to. Physically, you know, maybe this is that power poses thing, but like to physically be like not timid. And I think there's a lot of times when you're in a green room before the show or you're talking with people before the show, and I have maybe a tendency with people I don't know.
I used to assume a position that was like maybe smaller, and I'm like, oh, just yeah, thanks for having me, you know? Mm-hmm. And that also came from the fact that I was normally like sometimes the youngest or the least established in a room. Um, but I think now it's like I'm learning, you're typically going into a room where no one has any preconception about you, so.
The only thing that they can learn about you is what you're presenting. Mm-hmm. So, um, I just try to go in there and, you know, stand tall and be confident already so that when you go on stage, you're not starting from a place of like. Low, you know, status or whatever. Mm-hmm. Um, and I mean, a lot of it too, like I even noticed with shows I'm working on or something, the same sort of vibe is there that it's like nobody really knows what role you are.
We're all moving a thousand miles a minute. Like nobody can stop to be like, oh, so what, where, where are you on this hierarchy? And like. What role do you play and what is your job? And so then I just was like, okay, I gotta dress a little bit more, you know, established to look like maybe, hey, I don't know, maybe she's a producer.
I don't know. You know, like it's like, you know, just, just kinda like give yourself a not advantage, but almost just not to give yourself a disadvantage. 'cause I think sometimes I feel like I'm starting at a disadvantage. If I'm looking like this, so I need to just kind of, you know, maybe you put on a blazer.
Whoa, you know, I didn't see that coming. So if that helps. Yeah. I always go back to this one thing too, just the um, uh, there's like some statistic about laughing and how. You're, you know, 30% more likely to laugh if someone's like laughing next to you. So that's like a big mentality with comedy clubs. Like, put everybody really close together, keep 'em kind of in uncomfortable seat so they are like leaning forward and stuff like that.
But I think it just shows that like we're, you know what we think it's not like in a vacuum. Mm-hmm. So if somebody's like, yeah, that, that lady, she's definitely in charge. I like her voice. You know, she seems confident. And the next guy, the next girl might be like, yeah, I, I agree. You know, so not that you know, you're trying to fool everyone, but I think that it is, you know, if just that little.
Percentage is kind of subjective like that. It can be kind of fun to play with that and see how that can
be helped. Yes. Well, as we're wrapping up today, what would you like everyone listening to know about you or words of advice that you have to share?
Oh, gosh. Uh, words of advice. I mean, you know, it's, I think what I'm really, um, thinking about recently is that.
You know, community. I think that's like a funny buzzword that I keep hearing when I'm listening to books and, you know, hearing people talk and especially at this time. But I think especially what you guys have done with powerful ladies and like the fact that it's actually, you know, not just a podcast, but also like a network and a community that's kind of like, I don't know, I think it's, um.
Really helpful, and I always have to remind myself at least to like, reach out to people and check in with people and, um, think about this as not just me and not just I'm alone in this scary world or whatever. And so. Yeah. I don't know. Just, I think that's a, a big part of why I started podcast too, because it kind of just gives the weird excuse of like, Hey, wanna talk for an hour?
You know? And yes, it's allowed me to talk for an hour with a lot of people that maybe I would've otherwise had the opportunity to, or at least like mm-hmm. Maybe would've had to do it over food. And then you gotta figure out a place or whatever, you know? And so I think it's very, um, it has. Been an ongoing theme that I'm constantly reminded of is just like, you know, reach out, be buddies.
Um, not everyone is like, I don't know, so busy that they don't wanna be bothered, you know? Mm-hmm. And I think that's kind of like important to remember at this fun time of isolation.
Yeah, totally. And there's nothing. Your whole day can change, you know, for the, for the better by just reaching out and talking to someone and calling an old friend.
And, um, it's hard, like, as an entrepreneur, there's so many hours of the day that I feel I should be doing something that I didn't get off my to-do list yet. And to pause and go for a walk and either listen to an audio book or to call a friend or listen to a, it's, you know. It's so great to use that time to connect and remember that there are humans out there and humans.
Humans, right? Like we forget that there are Totally. It's crazy. So it's nice. So I think community is a great way to remind everyone to, you're not alone. Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Yeah, I know it's, it's tough 'cause it's like the social media stuff. I get sucked into it where it's like, yeah, I mean, I am liking this person's photo, so therefore we are community, but it's definitely not the case.
Yeah.
So remembering that as well. I love it. Well, thank you so much to being a Yes to the Powerful Ladies Podcast. Oh, thank you
for having me. Such an honor.
So fun.
Thanks for everything you guys do.
This is what the real hustle looks like. Working as a producer on one podcast while launching your own, doing standup at night, while working all day on your other projects. I love Sierra's position on the world needing community and comedy. It's true. We need comedy in the good times and the bad times.
I'm glad a smart, powerful, and funny. Sierra is leading that charge to connect, support and follow. Sierra, you can find her on Instagram at Sierra Catal and on YouTube, Sierra Catal. All the other ways you can find her and connect with her, including her website are listed on the powerful ladies.com/podcast.
Thank you so much for listening. I hope you've enjoyed this episode of The Powerful Ladies Podcast. There are so many ways you can get involved and get supported with fellow powerful ladies. First, subscribe to this podcast anywhere you listen to podcast. Give us a five star rating and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Follow us on Instagram at Powerful Ladies, join the Powerful Ladies Thrive Collective. This is the place where powerful ladies connect, level up, and learn how to thrive in business and life. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube page, and of course, visit our website, the powerful ladies.com. I'd like to thank our producer, composer, and audio engineer Jordan Duffy.
Without her, this wouldn't be possible. You can follow her on Instagram at Jordan K. Duffy. We'll be back next week with a brand new episode. Until then, I hope you're taking on being powerful in your life. Go be awesome and up to something you love.
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Created and hosted by Kara Duffy
Audio Engineering & Editing by Jordan Duffy
Production by Amanda Kass
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Music by Joakim Karud
