Sex, Love, and What Else Matters - From Alaska to a Comedy Special: Jessica Michelle Singleton Tells All
Episode Date: April 19, 2025Episode 154. This week, Kristen is joined by the hilarious and unapologetically honest Jessica Michelle Singleton—a comedy powerhouse known for her high-energy and dark-and-dirty storytelling. Jessi...ca opens up about everything from growing up in Alaska, her first stand-up set in college, and releasing her debut comedy special, Hi Y’all, dropping April 29! Kristen and Jessica dive deep into love, relationships (the good, the bad, and the “what were we thinking?!”), and what it’s like finally being in a place where you can be fully yourself with someone. Kristen also shares an update on Luke and why he hasn’t been on the podcast lately. It’s a heart-to-heart filled with big laughs, raw truth, and the kind of unfiltered honesty that makes you feel like you're hanging with your best friends. Follow Jessica Michelle Singleton in Instagram @jmscomedy and for more information on her special, go to punchup.live/jms. Sponsors: DraftKings Casino: Sign up with code DOUTE and start playing to get up to $1,000 in casino credits back with a minimum five-dollar net loss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Hi, I'm Vanessa from the podcast Real Moms at Bravo.
What happened with Lindsay and Carl? Or what's going on with the cast of Southern Charm?
Find out on Real Moms at Bravo three times a week.
Listen to us wherever you podcast.
Hi babes, welcome back to another episode of Balancing Act.
I am here, not with a therapist, not with a mommy doctor, not with somebody you guys
are going to complain about sometimes.
No.
I'm here with my very good friend, amazing, amazing, brilliant comedian, fellow dog mom
and lots of other stuff.
Jessica Michelle Singleton.
Oh my God.
I'm so excited to be here with your pregnant ass.
Hi Jess.
I'm with my pregnant big ass.
Honestly, you've got a donk.
It's great.
Saw it in the mirror.
I'm like, okay, can you share their wealth?
I'm so excited to be here and to see you.
It's been too long.
I'm so excited.
So the little comments I was making in the beginning,
I kind of started telling you before we started podcasting.
So for all my listeners out there,
I'm reading your reviews and those of you
who are giving me shit about talking about being pregnant
and like, oh my God, it's turning into a mommy podcast.
It's not.
And it was like three or four episodes of that, guys,
but that's what's happening with me right now.
That's all that's happening with me right now.
It turns out being pregnant takes up a lot of your time.
Planning for a baby? I mean, who knew?
It's fucking new.
Imagine if you didn't mention it at all.
Just how unhinged. Everyone's like,
is her kid gonna be okay?
I'm just like, anyway, another day.
Another day in life.
You're like, nothing different.
Just decided not to drink right now, but still going to the bars.
I just want to be around this scene.
I want to feel it.
My God, it's, I mean...
That would be hilarious, though.
And per usual, Gibson is joining us,
barking from afar,
because he needs all the attention in the world.
Of course. He's mad about your reviews, everyone.
I know. He's telling you guys.
How dare you besmirch my mother.
So you guys, I've known Jess for very long time now.
My God, so long.
Many moons.
And you are like literally the reason
that I started a podcast.
(*barking*)
And there they go.
I did force you to start a podcast.
I mean, I don't want to say force,
but for everyone leaving negative comments,
the reason I take them so personally is because I...
I mean, I would say...
You helped me.
...Boderlein harassed you into being like,
why are you not doing this?
Yeah, I was scared shitless.
I know. And it made me... And well, now people are leaving these comments, you're like, yeah, this borderline harassed you into being like, why are you not doing this? Yeah, I was scared shitless. I know. And it made me, and well, now people believe me
in these comments, you're like, yeah, this is why bitch.
I know, but I was like, you just are so interesting
and so dynamic.
And especially now, I mean...
Pre-pregnancy apparently.
Yeah.
You were so fun and now you're pregnant.
I'm just kidding.
Now I'm just a boring ass mom.
No, you're just mom. No, moms are fun.
And honestly, look, even if-
I'm not a regular mom, I'm a cool mom.
I'm a cool mom.
But you start crying.
You did, like you pushed me, you helped me,
like guessed it on yours, it made me feel more comfortable.
And I was like, you know what, what do I have to lose?
Why the fuck not?
And then I did, and we did our sex podcast for a while
and that was so fun with Luke.
And then I was like, oh shit,
now we're gonna really start dating for real.
And now it's just weird.
And then I started-
You can't be all horny.
And then you're like, and then we changed the carpets.
Yeah, like-
Literally, the real carpets.
Like in hindsight, I was like, was that going to be sustainable for long?
I guess not.
Because we were so comfortable talking about our own sex life, which we still are.
But I'm like, how long can you actually do that for?
And how many sex therapists can you have on a podcast?
I mean, you have to...
When you're not a professional.
Well, yeah.
And if that's not your whole niche in life,
that there are some people who I think do it really well,
but I mean, that's how my comedy started,
which is completely different than your podcast,
but it was a lot of sex.
Yours is more life changing.
Because it was like my...
Because I was like, when I started comedy,
all I talked about was sex.
I was having a lot of sex, I was a slut.
You were in college?
Yeah.
So, that's what I knew.
You get burnt by the sun and you get covered in semen.
And so I was like, here's my jokes and that evolved.
So it's natural that a podcast would.
And I love the new name, Balancing Act.
Yeah, thanks.
Which, you know.
Luke's not really that much a part of it yet.
We haven't really like announced anything
because we're kind of in limbo about like
whether or not Luke's going to keep doing it.
But...
Leave a comment and let us know how much you hate Luke or not.
We just...
Honestly, guys, here's the dead honest truth, we were fighting about it.
Not fighting about like the content or anything like that.
But I was getting so busy that I was just taking shit out on him
and being like, when are we going to record?
He's like, dude, I'm like right here in the same house with you
whenever you're ready.
And I was kind of like putting that on him,
but then not ready when it needed to be ready.
And it was just an easy...
He was just a scapegoat of...
Totally. He was totally my fucking scapegoat.
I was like, Beyonce, how about co-host from L? So he was like, yo,
why don't you just take over?
He's like, I'll just, if you need me to fill in on an episode.
A hundred word for word.
Then you only have yourself to blame.
Exactly. Yeah. But let's talk about you. Let's talk about you, baby.
Hi, me, baby.
Not pregnant.
Maybe infertile.
Never had that confirmed by a doctor, but a lot of men have shot loads up there and never
a pregnancy scare.
Anyway, very sad.
I had to learn about the word infertile.
It was like really weird when someone called me that.
I was like, oh, fuck yourself.
You're an asshole.
Somebody just called me that.
You're an infertile.
My infertility doctor.
Oh.
Well, they were clearly wrong.
I mean, you made something happen.
Test tube baby.
Is that what it was?
Are you...
We did IUI.
I never know what the...
Yeah, so it wasn't a test tube baby.
It was IUI.
It was basically like Luke goes to a special room and hands over a quote unquote sample.
And then the doctor, they quote-unquote clean the sperm
and spin it and clean it.
They hose it off, it's a nasty sperm.
Find a couple good swimmers.
Yeah, there's like three.
Turkey, Beisha.
Exactly.
And now my sweet princess is growing inside me.
The miracle of life.
You were made from love.
And a cup.
I'm a sperm bank baby.
I don't think it was IUI.
Well, it must have just been...
It was just some other man.
My dad couldn't. He was shooting blanks.
So it was just a sperm donor and they fucking...
into my mom.
And then I guess I was the best.
That's always a weird thing.
I out swam the sperm.
The other sperm. I don't look like a swimmer at all.
But here we are. And that
was in the 80s when that was like a new-fangled, like, ooh, fancy.
Back in the 80s, doesn't that feel like 77 years ago?
So crazy.
But also like, I was like, oh, 20, 30 years ago in the 80s.
And I'm like, how is that 30 years ago? How is that?
Math ain't math. And let's start with JMS, when Jess was a young type,
because this is all going to come full circle on this podcast today,
and I'm very excited because we're going to get to our special
that I'm so fucking excited about,
because I have been watching You Do Stand Up for so many years.
If you guys are like...
I guess I haven't really talked a lot about comedy on this podcast yet, but I am like...
I consider myself a female comedy groupie.
Yes.
Like, I love women stand-up comedians.
That's my favorite.
That's what I love.
I mean, I love a million things about you, but...
I'm fascinated.
I think it is...
I mean, I know that it is by far the absolute hardest job in the entertainment
industry is to be a stand-up comic.
That's so funny because I think what you do, I'm like, how do you, I would snap.
I just say it myself and just like, well, you know.
But it's like, I always, I remember when I first really started going to shows, which
was like when I moved to LA because in Michigan-
That's one of the things you do too.
Yeah.
And here, like there's just so many clubs
and there's so many opportunities,
like any night to go see comedians,
like work out their sets
or like have like a really big show that night.
And there's just so many opportunities.
You guys, if you don't live in LA and you come,
fuck Vanderpump Row and go into CERN, TomTom,
and all of that.
Go watch some really good comedy.
Any night of the week. That's such great stand-up.
But also wherever you are, look up and see if there's a club near you.
Some people don't realize down the street is a comedy club.
And big comedians or comedians you've never heard of
who are really funny come through there.
Yeah, because you tour.
Yeah, we all go on tour and it's so much better live.
I wish I could not bore people by giving speeches about that.
But I mean, you know firsthand, it's like,
you can watch a funny clip but it's better in the room.
It's electric.
It is absolutely electric.
That is the only time that I actually will praise that word electric.
Travis Kelsey ruined that word for me.
Oh, God.
Because he, I used to really love him.
I still love him, but on his podcast, he's like,
it's electric.
But I take it back.
It truly is electric in a comedy club.
It's like an energy.
You can feel going back and forth between the comedian and the audience member.
I sound so dorky.
No, dude. It seriously is.
And then when I meet women who are big fans of women in comedy,
I'm like, oh, you're my people.
Because that's, I mean, I am a comedian, but I'm also the same thing.
Like that's the comedy.
I get excited about the people I watched and then was like,
I wanna try to do that.
You know, it's all women, women, women.
I mean, literally yesterday I was like,
oh, what do I wanna watch on TV?
I'm like, I'm gonna watch that Ellie Wong special
on Netflix I've seen a million times
where she's super pregnant.
I mean, it's probably funnier than ever now.
Like Knocked Up Life or something.
Yeah.
That you're pregnant, you're like,
oh, these jokes didn't even hit the way they do now.
One million percent.
I wanna get pregnant and just film a special giving birth, call it Loose Cannon. Do you wanna get pregnant? that you're pregnant, you're like, oh, these jokes didn't even hit the way they do now. One million percent.
I wanna get pregnant and just film a special giving birth,
call it loose cannon.
Do you want to get pregnant?
I don't know, and I'm a little too old for I don't know.
I'm like...
Yeah, you're not.
No, I guess not, but like, there's moments where...
It's gonna be I don't know,
like until you're like, yeah, I want to, I mean.
And then the doctor's like...
Don't wanna fuck around and find out.
I'm 57, I'm like, I'm finally ready.
And they're like, this isn't,
your uterus is filled with dust.
Obwebs.
I think so, but I feel like, I don't know what my, maybe I keep moving the goalpost,
but I feel like I want my life to be at a slightly different, I want my career to be
slightly more elevated.
There's a moment when you're going to feel like the time is up.
I know you're quote, never ready, is what people say,
but I go, okay, I could handle it financially
and not be bringing a child into...
I don't want to pass my anxiety on immediately to a kid
by being like, they had to cancel the show tonight.
I mean, look what I'm about to do.
My little sweetheart.
She can deal with it. She's my offspring.
The next season, you're just like, be a star, mommy needs you to do. My little sweetheart. She can deal with it. She's my offspring.
The next season you're just like, be a star, mommy needs you to thrive.
Abso-fucking-lutely.
Oh my God, Kristin's on this season of Dance Moms. Her baby's three months old. Dance.
Oh my God. I'm dying. Okay. So yes, comedy is special. I want you to tell everyone about it,
but let's start because it is, you're doing an Alaskan tour, which is where you're from.
And I think that is one of the most fascinating things
about you.
And I'm sure you hear that from everybody,
but like who the fuck is from Alaska?
Crazy people.
Most of us don't get out.
Is country music big in Alaska
or do you just like country music?
It actually is.
I mean, I know Alaska is not like one city.
I talk about it like it's a little town.
It's like the biggest state actually. The biggest state. And there are several, I wouldn Alaska is not like one city. I talk about it like it's a little town. It's like the biggest state, actually.
The biggest state. And there are several,
I wouldn't say several cities.
There's a couple cities, one big one, which is where I'm from,
and then lots of little tiny...
You're from Juneau or Anchorage?
Anchorage, yeah. And those are the ones that people think of.
Anchorage and Juneau and sometimes Fairbanks,
if they're like, I know Alaska.
It's very...
Because I moved there actually in sixth grade from Mississippi,
which I think is where my love for country started.
Yeah, that's fair.
But it's Northern Rednecks.
I mean, the people who ride snow machines,
which some people call snowmobiles,
which Alaska hates.
You call them snow machines?
Snow machines.
Yeah, slednecks. That's what the people who do tricks and stuff on them.
There was a show that they tried to make.
I think there was one season of slednecks.
It was all these guys who did snow machine,
like were big time snow machine writers.
But I'm literally writing down snow machine
because that's foreign to you or heard that in my life.
It's so fun.
And this is how like quintessentially Alaskan that is,
is that when people are like, do you write a snowmobile?
Alaskans will be like, it's a snow machine.
It's a sled. Like they take personal? Alaskans will be like, it's a snow machine, it's a sled.
Like they take personal offense or think that you're like,
so out of touch.
And I've always been like, who gives a shit?
Just don't kill me on this thing.
I had a boyfriend in high school who I went riding on one with,
and I was like, we're gonna die.
And then he ended up in a wheelchair from a sled accident.
He's, I think, can, I don't know if he can walk now.
That's probably a dark thing to say.
Wasn't it a snow machine that Jeremy Renner got hurt on?
Or is it something else? I feel like he was like...
Or a plow. Maybe it was a snow plow or something.
Was it a snow plow? Because that's...
Those are so slow. I mean, how do you injure yourself with a snow?
It like fell on him or something.
Oh, okay. Then that makes sense. I don't want to dismiss his...
No.
I know he got seriously injured.
Oh, it was a snowplow, never mind.
Oh, wow. It fell on him. Oh, good lord.
It was not a snow machine or it like reversed into him or kept driving or something.
Oh, god.
I don't remember.
Yeah.
It was run over by a 14,000 pound snowplow while clearing his driveway.
And he's alive?
He jumped out of the vehicle.
I saw him recently, LA.
And I'm like, I look good for someone who got...
I actually used to see him at comedy shows.
I saw him at, Katie did.
I don't know if it was a show or she had like maybe the one year anniversary.
She did that little thing there.
And he was there.
And I of course did the like double take of. This is what I do in LA is I go, she did that little thing there. And he was there and I, of course, did the like double take of.
This is what I do in LA is I go, have I met that?
Oh.
Oh.
Oh yeah, yeah, that's Hawkeye.
NBD.
Yeah, Hurt Locker.
Hurt Locker, Hawkeye.
Yeah, no, I've, I know him.
No, I don't.
Yeah.
But I'm like, I've seen your work.
I've seen your work.
He's like same.
Okay, so snow machines, fascinating.
But it's very like, all that to say, like,
outdoors people, there's guns, they hunt, they fish.
So it has that sort of...
They are my fiancé.
Yeah, 100%.
Like, the second I met him, just like barely knowing him,
and he's from what, Colorado?
He's from Indiana, but has a place in Colorado.
Indiana makes so much sense. I like clocked it immediately
because I'm like, oh, he reminds me of everyone I grew up with.
Just mountain outdoor people.
And there's lots of country.
Little redneck-y.
Yeah, yeah, just down home in a good, the good ones.
You know, not the cartoon that people think they think redneck
and they think racist, crazy,
bubba who's dumb, and it's like, no,
there's good-hearted men who are very caring.
I think there's a good, I don't know,
they breed like good breed.
There's some like good wholesome family men
who will take care of you and just care.
It's like kind of-
And they like the outdoors and don't care about bougie things.
And it's like a really fun, it's just a fun way to live in the way that I want to raise
our daughter.
Yeah.
Just like in the real world.
Yes.
And that is not Los Angeles.
Yeah.
I know.
LA is so different than anywhere I've ever lived.
And there's even things I do now where me in high school would be like, I'm a fucking
pussy.
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So before college, what did you think you wanted to do?
Did you want to, like, be a performer?
I knew I wanted to be a performer.
Yeah.
My senior year of high school, I was just like in every club,
I was... I ran the assemblies. I was a class clown.
I just was... But I don't want to say not in an annoying way
because I'm sure, I'm positive I annoyed some people,
but in not a troublesome, not accepted way.
It was... I was very social.
You weren't, like, messing with the teachers and flipping desks.
The teachers liked me. I wasn't pranking people.
And so I was just sort of already entertaining
and hosting all the school events and stuff.
And I knew I wanted to do it, but I also was like,
no one in my immediate family had gone to college.
And I had this thing of, honestly, if I'm being honest with myself,
I'm like, I don't want to end up like my family, I gotta go to college.
I thought that college... What a fool I was.
I thought college would guarantee I could make...
Where did you go, Florida State?
University of South Florida. I almost went to Florida State, then got a crazy scholarship to USF.
And for academics.
And my grades were like decent and stuff,
and I had a good application, but I was like,
this is unheard of.
And it turns out, it's because nobody goes there.
Uh...
But I mean...
Listen, I didn't go to college.
I mean, I went to a college for like a couple semesters.
You're like, I went to age college.
And I was like, eh, not for me.
Good though. I mean, I had the time of my life,
but what I got out of college that's helpful was mostly my friends.
I mean, I spent a lot of money because I lost my scholarship drinking.
Just in case, quote. You know what I mean?
Because I was like, oh, I should have a solid background.
I can't just go be a performer. And it's worked out and that's fine, but there what I mean? Because I was like, oh, I should have a solid background, I can't just go be a performer.
And it's worked out and that's fine, but there is a part of it that's like,
what if I had just gone here immediately or to New York
and was like, what if I spent that money on trying to become a performer?
But maybe you needed that time, like, in your adolescence,
so like, you know, that 18 to 20, 21-year-old range.
I think about that with Tom Schwartz, fellow college student,
he went to FSU, And before he moved to LA, he was an exercise physiology major at Florida State.
That's what he graduated with.
Like I remember when he moved here and he wanted to act
and he wanted to be in entertainment.
And I was like, what the fuck do you do with that degree?
And he's like, I don't know.
Train other actors.
I don't even know what that is. Right. And like my fiance, he's like, I don't know. Train other actors. I don't even know what that is.
Right.
And like my fiance, he's an accounting major,
which I mean, he considers all the time
going back to school.
Cause which I think we, I'm not gonna lie.
I thought this in my forties, like,
I go back to school.
Is that just something that happens at this age?
Cause like midlife crisis of us.
Yeah. Cause I started looking up like schools
for getting a degree in psychology.
And it's like, no one wants,
I have too much on the internet for someone to be like,
you can help me.
And they're like, I've seen videos of you humping a stool.
Can you help me with my marriage problems?
Like, what am I, therapy, that's not.
And also during the pandemic,
I almost left LA and got a job as a park ranger.
Did you really?
I spiral up too easily.
How do I remember this? I don't think I told very many people, park ranger. I... I spiral up to... I don't even remember this.
I don't think I told very many people.
But I literally was like, I was dating someone,
I mean, you know, that's how we got connected.
The guys we were dating through pandemic were friends,
and we became friends.
That's honestly what I think I was supposed to get out of that relationship.
I was like, oh, I was supposed to meet Kristen. Okay.
That is such a good fucking point.
Because I even, right as I was going to get batteries
for this pod track, and you and I were like,
before podcasting, we're talking about the people
that were in that front group,
that we don't really talk to any of them anymore.
And I was thinking like, oh my God,
had I not dated that guy,
you guys know the guy before Luke.
I was like, what?
Like, did I have a stroke?
Like, what was I thinking?
Why did I stay in it for so long?
You know what?
It's trauma.
Yeah.
I think about this and it's not even,
I mean, there are a million things I could say
to be petty and blatantly disrespectful, but we're better than that.
Yeah, and also it might go both ways, probably not,
because we're too good for them,
and we're so lucky and we're stupid.
But I now look back and I go,
oh, I bet if pandemic hadn't happened,
I probably wouldn't have stayed.
I think it was a reaction of like, well, we're locked down,
what do I do?
And it's, everyone's trying to make sense of things
and some people split up and some people held on for dear life.
And I think we were all just trying to survive.
And that's how we did it.
It was just such, it was like the unknown
of how long is this gonna last? What is this even?
What does this even mean?
Is this a month? Is this years and years from now?
Yeah, and we were both in fields that like got upended.
I mean, you went through a fucking crisis of what's next.
I was like, it's over for me.
I was gonna be a park ranger.
Like comedy clubs are canceled.
Like you can do online stuff, but how are you making money?
How are you really making money?
And then I was like, even when it comes back,
I felt like, oh, I was making it,
but I was kind of at the bottom of the top
and everything's gonna scale back.
So the people above me are gonna take my spot.
There's not gonna be any room for me.
And just a whole crisis.
And I think-
Yeah, it's just a whole anxiety ridden
because of the unknown.
And I think it's perfectly natural to just,
even if it's not the right thing for you,
hold on to the thing that you do know.
You're like, okay, I know that there's a million things about this that aren't right, but I know it. And so let's
have one thing familiar. And then figuring that out or having that realization helped
me have like forgiveness for the whole situation for myself for being like, that's so smart.
I've literally I'm having like the biggest fucking aha moment right now. Because I just
just like, did I just go crazy?
Like the only thing I was chalking that relationship up to
in that time period was like,
I had broken up with my ex-boyfriend Carter
and we were together for so long.
And I knew that like, even when I broke up with him,
I really loved him, but we just weren't working.
And I was just tired of trying to make fetch happen.
You know, like it just wasn't working.
Yeah, I know it just wasn't the fit, it was over. And I had so much respect and love for him.
And it wasn't this shitty tumultuous breakup.
Sometimes it's harder.
Where you're like, can't you be, just be a dick
and just sleep with someone for the love of God.
Just sleep with a hooker in front of me,
like on my front lawn, Jesus Christ.
And then, yeah, then when I met the,
or like kind of reconnected,
met this, the ex-boyfriend
that we're talking about right now,
it was like, he was so different than anyone.
Yeah, there is a pendulum swing too.
Yeah.
Where you go, it's like a palate cleanser almost.
Not to chalk things up fast.
But sometimes you go, this is,
and I actually, it's so funny
because it was the same thing for me,
where I was like, this guy is kinda like just more wild
in a different way or social in a way that I was like,
I'm I've stopped being fun and he's fun. And I did the opposite. I said, I've had enough fun.
I need to date someone who is like, strict and has their shit together and has like a boring job.
And yeah, I need to look serious to like... In real estate. Yeah. Like...
To just bring me down to earth and straighten me out.
Yeah, it was just...
So we both went crazy in the opposite way and then stuck around for so long because of...
For so long.
Because we both broke up...
Almost the exact same time.
A month apart or something.
Yeah.
And I think we both, it was like a cloud lifted and I was like, what have I been doing?
Yeah.
I'm out, dude.
And for all I know, he was the same way and didn't wanna pull the plug, you know what I mean?
Because in my mind now, it was such an obvious bad fit,
but I was mad at myself for so long.
Cause I was like, why?
I didn't listen to my intuition.
I knew way sooner, but it's like, well,
also that brought me to the point of,
okay, but maybe I was still supposed to be here in LA,
and maybe had I done it sooner, I would have gone fully cuckoo
and been like living in Utah, being like,
I'm a park ranger at a lake.
Yeah, the universe was like,
girl, we need you to hold on to this comedy career,
so we are gonna fuck you in a different way.
Right? The universe and like five of my friends were like,
stop calling me and telling me about how you're gonna be a park ranger,
but you're not going back to school. Just wait.
I'm so glad you didn't tell me that I would've like chained you to something.
I mean, yeah, there's probably a reason. I was probably embarrassed.
But I was just gonna sneak out in the night,
and then you're gonna be like, where'd she go?
Oh, she's living off the grid.
South of Salt Lake City.
You should do, oh my God, I love your characters.
I don't know if you still do those.
I have it in a while.
The characters you do online.
Like you post them on Instagram at least.
Oh my God, Nate's gonna, my current boyfriend
who is an absolute angel, he's gonna be like,
see, I told you, he always is like,
do more of the characters, people like them.
You are so good at that, but I'm like,
I just pictured what your park ranger character would be like.
I should just do one.
That you should.
Because then you can still live your best life that way, but not.
Fake park ranger.
The park ranger who got fired from being a park ranger after Trump and refuses to leave.
I have to save the park.
Yeah.
It's chaos.
But I mean, it brought us together.
It brought us together.
It brought us together. We're so lucky. Oh, my God.
Okay, so, Florida, okay, let's go back to, like, your comedy career.
Yeah, very fast.
It's... They know this is how my...
It's a balancing act.
It's how my brain works, guys. Sorry.
And I was, like, waiting to catch up with Jess,
specifically so I didn't, like't ruin things before the podcast.
That's so funny. I do that all the time.
And then re-talk about it, you know?
And then it feels reality TV of me.
Because Brittany and I will do it.
She'll have something to tell me if it's like,
in the summer we're filming.
And she's like, I'm not gonna tell you.
Just don't even ask me, because I'm gonna wait
and tell you on camera so I don't have to tell you twice.
Oh my God, fucking professionals.
And that's why you guys have been on TV
for so many seasons because you do it right.
That's...
Mwah.
But you know what I mean?
It's like when you hear something for the first time
and it's like you and I could have caught up
in the last couple of days or the last couple of weeks
and then re-talked about all of this right now.
Yeah, but you can hear it.
You can hear it when it's like four. It's like, no way.
That's crazy.
Pregnant.
I think I'd imagine if I was like, you're pregnant.
I had no idea.
You're like, wait, when did that happen?
Who's the father?
I just have no idea about your life.
I'm done.
Oh my gosh.
Okay. Florida college.
Florida college, no.
So when you, like, do you remember, your aha moment or rough-ish?
Like, that you were like, I'm gonna go do my first show.
Well, okay, yes, because I spent all of college being like,
I'm getting a degree, but someday I want to be on Saturday Night Live.
I thought I wanted to do sketches,
and that's why I do characters and stuff still.
Very cool.
And for the record, I would love to tell you guys
that I'm just aggressively turning them down,
but it's not, I'm okay never,
like it's not the big dream anymore,
but it's not like I'm sitting here going, I've moved on.
I would still, that would be awesome,
but standup has become the main focus.
Basically I was, you know, running,
I was in a sorority surprise.
It actually does surprise a lot of people.
I forgot about that, actually.
I did know that and that is surprising.
Yeah, I get it.
But so I would be anything where there was like Greek week,
you have to put on a variety show.
I was always writing a variety shows.
I was the funny girl in the sorority and at college and whatever.
And I kept saying, well, I want to I want to do comedy.
I want to do comedy. And then by my my last year of school, it was nearing the end of the first semester of my last year.
And I was like, I guess I should figure out how to do comedy. And I actually just tried
standup. I looked up a comedy club because I had no idea how people get on SNL. So I
was like, I'll just some of them are standups, I think. So I'll try standup with I tried
standup going and eventually that will somehow lead to SNL.
Did someone like tell you like how to write a set?
I mean, obviously you were a writer already
and you were doing things in that field, but like.
No, I.
To do like, to do five minutes,
like five whole minutes, you guys.
I have done one time in my life for a sketch comedy show
with a bunch of my girlfriend comedians.
I would love to see you do that.
Rachel O'Brien being one of them.
And all I did was, it was like a birthday show.
I did it on Vanderpump Rules, but I did it once before that.
It was actually really good because the jokes were better.
And I had all my comedian friends helping me write them.
Like this was not all me, obviously. I didn't know what I was doing, but I just
remember totally blacking out. And I had my phone with me that had it all written down,
but I was so terrified of just... And it's like, how do I not remember it? I fucking
wrote it. Like I wrote it with them.
Yeah, you're like, I've gone over it.
Absolutely terrifying. So I cannot... And you think five minutes just in life,
it's so fast.
On stage? It's not fast on stage.
No, it's like an hour.
The way, I remember, I mean, coming to LA
and going to open mics, the way you would watch people
hit like one minute and be like, so what else?
And they're just sweating and they're going,
is my time up?
And people are like, you can leave early,
you don't have to stay, it's an open mic.
You're not, you have no obligation.
Yeah, it's, I actually did the opposite.
I wrote, I wrote a full set out.
I mean, I didn't understand how stand-up work,
but it was like a script and I memorized it
and I was practicing in front of a mirror.
And to be honest, I don't know why I have never once done that again.
Like I've just been in front of a mirror. Not even in front of a mirror. And to be honest, I don't know why I have never once done that again. Like I've just in front of a mirror.
Not even in front of a mirror.
I like fully written out a script.
I'll always write like half notes or just an idea
with little like bullet points of tags.
But I memorized a full script
that I thought was gonna be five minutes,
way longer than five minutes.
Oh, okay.
And I didn't know.
So in comedy,
this is something a lot of people might not know, there's something
called the light where they flash a light from the back of the room so the comedian
knows to wrap up.
I didn't know that.
So I went to my first open mic with this whole set and there's like a light in the back and
I didn't know what it was.
And I was like, okay, they ended up playing me off.
So you just kept going.
I kept going because I didn't know and I was doing well.
I did really well. I did so well in fact that I didn't know. And I was doing well. I did really well.
I did so well in fact that I didn't know the open mic was actually a competition to get
into the semi-finals of something called Florida's Funniest Person.
What?
That's rad.
It's really rad.
But it's also, I look back and I cringe at the fact that I had a bunch of my sorority
sisters come for my very first open mic because I've seen people's very first open mic.
I'm like, nobody should have seen that.
That shouldn't have been in private.
But they were all so excited because I'd been talking about it forever.
And they're like, we're coming.
And it's just like the support of the familiar, the familiarity around me.
These are my friends. I'll be more comfortable.
And it was so great that they came and like, we know you're going to be amazing.
We love you.
And I think, honestly, I know I did well.
I got laughs not just from them, from the crowd,
but I also think the club was probably like, oh, she she's gonna fill some seats." -"Yeah, good points."
We gotta bump her into this next show
and bombed my dick off in the second time I ever did it.
But yeah, it was just an instant.
The first laugh I got, it was like this feeling of connection
where I was like, I literally, in my head,
You're like, fed your comic soul. You were like, I get it. I was like, oh, this is the was like... You're like five year comic soul. You were like, I get it.
I was like, oh, this is the thing I want to do.
This is the outlet.
SNL, cool, call me, still would love to do it, whatever.
But I became just obsessed immediately.
I was like, oh, I love this.
It was like something clicked.
Yeah.
That's so sick.
Yeah.
And so then just started going around like...
Just started going around the little Tampa scene, open mics.
I worked three jobs for a year after I graduated,
and just hoarded every penny.
And then was like, I'm going to LA!
And everyone was like, that's a big move.
And I'm like, well, go big or go home.
And I haven't gone home.
Did almost once go to a park, as previously discussed.
But it's worked out.
I mean, yeah, I just drove out here in my little Kia Spectra
with a little U-Haul attached to the back.
We love a good Kia in this household.
You see there's one in the driveway.
They're reliable.
I mean, I got totaled in that,
but I cried when they towed that thing away.
You have so many memories.
Yeah, you don't know how intimately connected you are with your car. Not intimately. I didn't
like fuck my car, but I'm like, oh, that's the only thing that knows the real me. No
man I've been with will ever know how much I've picked my nose and thrown it out the
window on a highway.
Just accept who you are.
I was a disgusting young woman. It was a stick shift too. I was just...
Oh my God, you drove a fucking stick shift.
Which, blessing in disguise that it's gone, going up, Los Anagas.
Yeah, I was like, that wouldn't last in LA very long.
It was hell on earth.
It's really difficult.
But I was like, my baby.
Where was your first show here in LA?
Do you remember?
The John Lovett's Comedy Club.
Do you even know about this?
No, does it still exist?
No.
Okay.
So, it was in Universal City Walk.
What? In a terrible in Universal City Walk. What?
In a terrible location in City Walk, it was, so, do you know where the Johnny Rockets is?
Yes.
Above that, there's a Howl at the Moon and then it was tucked around a corner where you
can barely fucking see it.
It used to be years ago, it was BB King's Blues and Jazz Club.
And that went out of business because it's a terrible, it's hidden.
And John Lovitz for a couple years had a comedy club there.
And I remember being like, I'm doing a show.
That had to be feel and be so cool.
Like City Walk, it's like Universal Studios.
Studios, John Lovitz, who like I grew up watching the critic
and he was so funny on SNL, he's just such a funny character actor.
And I was like, I'm doing it at his club.
And it was just some, you know, showcase of comedians who nobody knew.
And there was five people in the audience, but I was like, I'm living my dream.
That's how people get discovered, though.
I mean, that's what I told myself.
I actually had a podcast on his network for.
Shut up.
We had the number one podcast on John Lovett's comedy network.
Have you ever met him before?
Yes, but I don't think he would remember.
And I'm only saying that based on like,
it seemed like a very flighty interaction,
but maybe he would remember.
I think he remembers.
Maybe he's just such a character.
Last time I saw him was at Jeff Ross's birthday
and he was eating a plate of only frosting from the cake.
And I was like, why are you a cartoon of yourself?
Oh, I love frosting.
Okay, he's my boy.
Jeff Ross is so funny and so great.
So funny.
And so nice. He has a really...
He's got a one-man show he's doing right now that's very personal.
Yeah.
Because he just beat cancer not that long ago, right?
Like a year ago or so.
Which is, I mean, everyone's already made the joke of like...
You look like you have cancer the whole time.
The Tom Brady roast.
Yeah, everyone.
But I mean, when he first said it, I was like, is this a bit?
I will say something that really surprised me.
And like, I don't get starstruck in LA.
Most LA people don't anymore.
You're just like, OK.
Like, unless it's someone that you personally
are such a huge fan of and you see them.
But like, it's just not the same as it is other places
because they're everywhere.
Because they're everywhere.
Because stars, they're just like us.
But every time I would go to,
especially back in the day when Rachel O'Brien
still lived here and I would go to comedy
a lot more often, it blew my mind how you,
like my friends that are comedians,
are actually like buddies with these super
famous actor-comedians. Like, holy shit, what? And like, just so casually, like at the, I'm
sorry, the store, aka the Comedy Store in West Hollywood.
So insane, comedy.
They're like, oh, I just sat at the store tonight. But we would go there and like hang
out and like have a drink outside in
that little front patio area and like the biggest effing people ever would like come through and
just casually you guys like say hi to them like, oh yeah you're doing a saturday night, oh yeah cool,
yeah I'm in the belly room, oh I'm in here and I'm like what is that happening right now?
These are just friends. Like you just know these people. It is, I have to remind myself. It's a
really cool little world. It's like a small world is. I have to remind myself. It's a really cool little world.
It's like a small world,
and then I have to take a second sometimes and go like,
oh, I'm a huge fan of this person.
Or like, Bill Burr knows who I am.
That is insane.
But that's insane.
It's fucking Burr.
It's fucking crazy.
I remember one time coming off stage in the main room,
probably like a year or two ago,
and he's like, oh, funny set as always.
And I was like, oh.
I mean, even if he's lying.
Like pinched me.
He felt like he had to lie.
That's one time I brought up Dave Chappelle
and I don't think he remembers me.
And that's less about me and more about the fact
that it seems like when he's at the store,
he goes pretty hard in the paint with the shots.
But I brought him on stage late night
and he was like so funny and I was like,
oh my God, he said I was so funny.
But then like an hour into his set,
cause he'll do these like just super long crazy sets
where he just goes on and on, it's great.
Everyone loves it.
Cause nobody's gonna be like Dave Chappelle,
you need to get off.
And everyone's, no one's leaving.
Everyone's like hanging on every word.
How lucky are we to be here?
In this intimate setting.
And then at some point in the set he goes,
y'all know this show wasn't shit till I got up here.'"
And I was like, oh, goddammit, Dave.
But remember, it's just comedy. He's joking.
Right, Dave? Are you out there?
Yeah, it's crazy.
And then I forget sometimes now, because I'm so in it.
And I've had friends that, like, I've started with,
or we're, you know, we've been...
There's ebbs and flows and people pop at different times.
And sometimes I forget how famous some of my friends are
that I'm like, oh, Theo Von,
you can't just hang out on the patio.
Yes, Theo Von is who I kind of remember knowing,
not knowing well, but just through my comedian friends.
Well, he was hung around a lot more than he also like...
There was a time where he was just like hanging out at the store,
on the patio, like we do now, or you know.
And now he couldn't do that without being hounded.
I mean, he does sometimes.
And it's interesting watching these people really interact
with their fans and stuff in a setting like that,
where he's so cool about it.
And I'm like, man, I hope if I'm ever...
That you'll be the same way.
Yeah. And not that I would be rude, but I'm afraid...
I'm so worried I'll come off as a bitch out of overwhelm.
Like, if I'm... Which, okay, what a worry about a thing.
It's like, all right, just...
You're worried about where you're at, which is like,
nobody recognizes you, just keep working.
No, I totally get that though.
Like, just like their perception of you because of overwhelm, but...
Yeah.
But you don't mean harm by it.
You're just like...
No, but you're just like, um, okay.
And people feel like they know you.
I'm sure you get this when you meet people.
I mean, they've seen you.
But I feel like with comedians, you guys...
Like, I would never, ever dare to be offended
or admit that I were offended by a comedian.
Ever.
Really? No, because I don't know if you're fucking... If you're really being serious and you're an asshole to be offended or admit that I were offended by a comedian. Ever.
Really?
No, because I don't know if you're fucking,
if you're really being serious and you're an asshole
or if you're just fucking with me
because it's still funny if you are messing with me
because I'm not sensitive.
Yeah, you're like, I don't want you to think I don't get it.
Yeah, and I don't want you to think I'm like a sensitive
Sally, like who can't handle comedy.
Yeah, God, I never thought about how like
intimidating comedians might be for regular people.
When you actually meet them, you're like, oh, you're so scary on stage.
I probably let people down.
I go, no, thank you so much for coming.
And they're like, the fuck?
But that's even better.
That is really better.
Because you're so docile.
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So what, I forget, what year did you move here? Oh god, it'll be 15 years in
July. I knew you were right around where I was at. Let's just say, when did you?
It'll be 18 years.
Damn.
In July.
I feel like we're LA people now.
I know, it's very wild.
This is our hometown.
It's very wild.
I mean, yeah, you're the Valley.
Okay, so you're not too cool yet
that you're still doing your normal shows around LA
and you're still getting up everywhere.
But now you have your first hour special.
Yeah.
And that is huge.
I'm so excited.
Like that's just, it's like you've made it.
Like that's the coolest thing ever.
Thank you.
Yeah.
And it's an hour.
Like we were, a few minutes ago,
we were talking about how I think five minutes,
the five minutes up top is like the scariest thing in the world in like an hour.
Yeah, and it's crazy the longer I've done it, I'm like, oh,
there's still comics who they'll go, how long are you going to do?
Because for comedians, when you're headlining, it's like 45 minutes to an hour.
And I go, I'll do an hour. And then everyone's like, yeah.
And then I do it and it's fine. But it was, it's been a long road.
But yeah, I'm so excited.
So tell me about it. Because I mean, I know about it,
but tell the listeners about it.
Tell the listeners, I will tell you about it.
Tell everyone about it.
Okay, so it's called Hi Y'all, and I filmed it in New Orleans,
because a lot of the jokes up top are about my early childhood growing up in Mississippi,
which was about an hour away where I grew up from New Orleans.
And if I'm being totally honest, I used it as an excuse to ride off the travel to see Taylor Swift. I mean, what an unhinged thing to do. It was
self produced. And I'm like, I'm spending so much money on Taylor Swift, I should write
it off with a special. I'm like, I should spend more money.
It's actually brilliant.
Like, yeah, you say that. But then leading up because this is classic for me, my ticket
sales, I'm at a level where people go, Oh, I want to see her. So we'll get tickets when
she did the day she's here.
And so I'm like, oh, what was I thinking coming to New Orleans?
Taylor Swift is here. People have spent all their money.
They can't come see me.
And then, sure enough, the week of, it all filled up
and it was a fire hazard and it was great, thank God.
But I was like, I'm a fool.
And New Orleans is known to be bad for comedy.
Like, it's just for some reason.
I guess it's because people go there for jazz.
There's so much going on. People want to go out and drink. It's like harder to... But drunk bad for comedy. Like, it's just for some reason, I guess it's because people go there for jazz, there's so much going on, people want to go out and drink,
it's like harder to...
But drunk people love comedy.
I know. But also, what a risk I took being like,
that could have been a shit show.
And honestly, the back end of the audio,
like there's a... The closing joke has been a struggle in post-production
because who knows if the sound guy at the place
spilled a hurricane on the soundboard.
I don't know.
At some point a party bus went by.
We had to like cut it out.
It just worked out that we had cut it out seamlessly.
We almost left it in, but I was like,
there's a party bus going by and we can't hide the sound.
So much chaos.
It was like, it's New Orleans.
But it was great.
And so I wanted to do it somewhere close to my hometown.
And yeah, it's just an hour of my favorite material It's New Orleans. But it was great. And so I wanted to do it somewhere close to my hometown.
And yeah, it's just an hour of my favorite material up to this point and stuff that people
haven't seen.
It is not out yet for everyone.
It's not out.
So April 29th, it'll be out on, it's a website called PunchUp.live, which is a stand up
website.
You can go directly to my page, PunchUp.live slash JMS.
And we'll have this at the bottom of the podcast.
Yay. Yeah. And so it's just there.
It's free. You just subscribe to me.
And the reason I decided to just put it out there,
they were really excited when I said I wanted to do that,
versus I could have tried to sell it,
and not to say I would have, but, you know,
could have tried to put it out on one of the various platforms,
or I maybe will eventually move it to YouTube,
but the thing about that website, which is cool for comedians and fans of comedy,
as I know I was like shoving it down your throats,
everyone at the beginning of the show,
just deep-throating you with go to live comedy.
What happens when you sign up for this website is,
when you subscribe to me, all you do is put in your email,
it doesn't get sold or anything, I'm not gonna spam you,
I don't send out a daily newsletter,
I'm not like, I'm barely hanging on.
Wiki feet, not like that.
Don't forget to rate me.
You also put in your zip code.
So on my end, I have like a heat map.
So I see where people who are fans of my comedy are.
That's very cool.
And then I can email you.
The only time I'll do it is when I have a show in your city.
So then you get to be the first to know,
hey, I'm coming to town, come see me live.
And that's really helpful for you when you're booking,
when you're doing a tour.
Yeah, when I'm setting up my tour, I go,
oh my God, there's so many people in Detroit that want to see me
and I haven't booked a show there.
Yeah.
So then it's really smart.
It's smart. And then if you really like live comedy,
you now have an account where if you subscribe to me,
it'll show you other comedians.
You're like, oh, if you like her, you might like them.
It's like Netflix or like Prime or whatever.
They're like, you like this show, you might also like.
Yes.
Which is also genius and brilliant.
It's so helpful.
And you can log in and it shows you just anyone
who has a show near you.
It goes, this is going on this week in your town.
So if you're like, I want to see live comedy, who's in town?
Yeah.
So they're kind of new, but they're really comedy forward.
So I was like, I'll get on board.
I love that.
Let's do it.
So yeah, it's just out there.
It's pioneering.
I'm trying.
I'm just trying to survive.
Tell people, oh my God, watch my special.
And so you're going on a tour.
So this is where I was saying we're going to come full circle because you're doing a
tour in Alaska.
Is this the first time you've done an actual tour in Alaska?
I did a mini tour last year, which was like Anchorage and then two other cities, Homer
and Seward, which are Seward, not Seward.
Oh my God.
Do not come for me Seward.
I just called it Seward.
Kill me.
Also one of the most gorgeous places.
Fuck my life.
Which is like down in South Central Alaska, which I never thought until this moment to
be like, I'm from South Central.
South Central.
But I haven't done like the Southeast Island chain.
And then there's, I'm going up to Fairbanks
and this little island city called Cordova.
So I'm going to a lot of places that are cool
and don't necessarily get a lot of standup comedians
because they're off the grid so much
and they're just fundamentally Alaska.
Is that your hour special is premiering when you're in Anchorage?
So, yes, so the night before it comes out,
I'm doing a screening at the movie theater there.
It's like the movie theater I grew up going to that has like...
Oh, that is so special!
I know, I'm so excited, and it's filling up, and of course it is,
but I have been at a point in my career
for the last like two years.
It's like this, hopefully, fingers crossed,
getting ready to like boil over where,
like I just said, my shows will fill up, you know,
sell out or be decent enough most of the time.
I'm not gonna lie to you guys.
There's some times where I'm like, turns out,
I don't have any fans in Janesville, Wisconsin, whoops.
But like, it'll be the last minute.
And I go, oh my God.
And this theater is already filling up.
And I mean, it's been filling up,
but it's usually, I'm not kidding.
It's like the day or two before is,
it will go from like five people to filling up a room.
Yeah, yeah.
And seeing that happen early, even though it's my hometown,
because it all is, has just been so like,
oh, I, a little mark of my progress and...
Yeah.
I don't know if you feel the same way,
but it's so hard to like take a moment and be proud of yourself.
Yeah.
That I am trying to be like, this is a big deal.
I already sold out my show in Juneau and we had a second one.
Yeah.
And it's a little theater, but I'm like,
it's a theater and I sold it out.
It's a huge deal.
So I'm just so excited.
And we're going to red carpet it up.
One of my like good friends from high school who's like a local photographer, she's going
to come take pictures and I have VIP bags and I don't want to bring down the mood, but
I did recently lose one of my little brothers and my youngest brother still lives there
and he was my stepbrother from my mom getting remarried. And their mom is up there.
So they're gonna come and I have like a booth for them
and it would just be nice like to see them and...
A nice little like paying...
Yeah, yeah. And he's, I mean...
A little dedication.
Yeah, and he's mentioned at the end, like in the morning,
which maybe I shouldn't have said so,
it could be like a big fun surprise,
but I would be shocked to find out my baby brother
listens to any reality show for his podcast.
But good for him if he does.
Honestly, he has a kid,
he could probably learn a few things.
It is a mommy podcast after all.
Now that it's all mom, all the time.
So it'll be nice.
And I happen to just be up there,
cause I haven't gotten to see him since this happened.
So like I have a chunk of time between shows
where I can just spend time with my youngest brother and, like, I'm gonna go scatter some ashes
on a, like, hike or something.
So how long are you gonna be gone?
Like, are you gonna take just more time there?
Because, I mean, the tour alone.
It's, oh, I just have, like, a chunk of days in between
that I had already planned to be in Anchorage.
I'm basically leaving on April 23rd, late at night.
For some reason, every flight to Alaska
is always in the middle of the night.
No, it's-
How long is that flight?
It's only five hours.
Okay.
But I leave at like seven and then I land.
I always land and it's like midnight.
Yeah.
It's way up, you know, it's out in motherfucking nowhere.
And I was like, I've definitely never been there.
Yeah, you should go there.
Never even been to like that side of Canada before.
Oh my God, it's so gorgeous. Everyone should go.
I'm like, don't stay. Get out before you become Alaskan.
I would really like to. I love the movie The Proposal.
Ever since I saw The Proposal, I was like, I want to go to Alaska.
It's gorgeous. And then I'll be there through May 6th.
So I have, like, a chunk off between some of the dates.
Because my first run of dates is three little cities, Juno,
Skagway's at Tiny Town.
Oh yeah, I was going to ask you if you just for the listeners, because oh my God, I hope
I have Alaska people. I love you.
I hope you do too.
I love you all.
Because we're the best.
I looked at your tour and I was like, I can pronounce three of these names.
That's so funny. Juno, Skagway and Ketchikan are on the...
I know, everyone's going, yeah,
what the fuck are you talking about lady?
But yeah, no, it gets like seventies gorgeous.
It's just very short.
I want to plan a little trip there now.
It does sound fun.
I know Luke would love it.
He had an Alaskan fishing trip planned this past year
and it ended up being the weekend that he proposed, or
the week that he proposed to me, and we were in Hawaii.
So we had to cancel his Alaska trip to go fishing because we were filming and going
to Hawaii.
And so I'm like, I feel like I owe him that Alaska trip that he had planned for over a
year.
He was so excited about it, and it was like, oh, we're filming.
And now I got a ring on my finger, and then we're filming. And now I gotta bring out my finger
and then we're getting pregnant, so nope.
You don't have any choice now.
Once we have this baby, we both really,
what I want for her is to be more adventurous
than I ever was.
I love that.
That's not what it's all about.
And it's not like my mom's fault or anything,
but it's like, I was from Michigan, very sheltered.
I mean, I went to Florida, like very sheltered and like, I mean, I like went to Florida, you know,
like that's like our big trip,
but I was a very like adventurous person
and I didn't travel anywhere.
And I'd like, I want that for our daughter.
And I'm like, how cool would it be to go to Alaska
and take her to Alaska, like in the nicer times, you know?
Yeah, when it's, the only thing is the best time
to see the Northern Lights is like the worst time of
year for it's cold as hell.
But it's still gorgeous either way and everyone should go.
And it sounds like I work for an Alaska tourism company.
But it is just like, I didn't even appreciate it as a kid.
I was so pissed that we moved there because it was sixth grade and I was like, you know,
starting to be friends with the cool girls.
And then my mom's like, we're moving to Alaska. And I was allergic. I would get
hives if I got too cold. Like, I was like, this sucks. It took me moving away and coming back to
go, wow, it's really beautiful. Another thing we figure out when we're later in life. Or you like
actually stop and smell the roses and you're like, I'm passing away. So wait, what are you gonna do with your doggos?
So my dog, Moki, and our-
Who is the cutest thing ever.
My little snaggle too.
Yeah, she has her own Instagram.
She's amazing.
Snaggle underscore rock.
She's not an influencer by any means,
but she be taking pictures.
She's so cute.
She's fun to look at.
I love her so much. She usually comes with me. She's so cute. She's fun to look at. I love her so much.
She usually comes with me.
She's a registered service dog,
so I just fucking have to be.
I've gone full LA.
I show up.
I once had her in Bumfuck, Wisconsin,
and I had to get a rental car to go to my shows,
and all they had, they're like,
oh, sorry, the car you tried to get is gone.
All we have is this white convertible Mustang.
So I was like, I got out and went into the CVS
and I have like a dog in a Mustang
and I'm like, I look like such a piece of shit.
I look like a cartoon and I'm like, whatever I am, deal with it.
But I was like, this is hilarious.
She's a sweet angel. She usually comes with me,
but I'll have...
Is she a nervous Nellie on tour?
She used to be, but now I think she's like,
okay, I get it.
I have lots of memories of Moki because of the time
you and I used to spend together.
She was a train wreck.
And our dogs hanging out and stuff,
but my memory that...
The core memory?
The core memory.
I know what you're gonna say.
When Tom Sandoval...
That piece of work.
Tom fucking Sandoval... That piece of work... Tom fucking Sandoval...
Fucking...
Set off illegal fireworks off the balcony
in the Hollywood Hills, you guys.
Talk about a fucking fire hazard, number one.
Fire hazard?
And a house full of small dogs.
Terrified.
And he's setting off these illegal fireworks
out of his hand off this balcony.
What a fucking...
And she shat herself.
She ran into the cupboard and just shit everywhere.
She was so scared.
She's so afraid of fireworks.
I was about to throw him off the balcony.
I was like, did you see what you did?
And my dog, Bowie was freaking out.
That was my introduction to Ariana.
She's like, you fucking idiot.
God damn it, Tom.
Like just, cause she, cause they both went running.
Like Peach, my ex's dog, and then Moki took off
and she like helped me like grab them.
Cause we were like, I don't know where they're gonna go to.
And she was like, scream.
She's like, you moron.
And I was just like, Moki.
And then unfortunately I think that tainted Moki's feelings
about that house for the remainder of her life.
Anytime we went there, she would just tower by the door
because she's like at any moment, she was like a war veteran.
She's like, the bombs are going to go off.
The PTSD was real.
She was just so terrified.
And now I'm like, oh, this poor thing.
Every 4th of July, I'm like, we got to get out of here.
Yeah, I hate 4th of July.
So are you going to take her with you?
But you also just fostered a puppy. Yeah, we still got him. We're getting rid of him.
Not getting rid of him, but he's...
He's going to his next home.
His next foster. So, look, I won't lie to you guys.
We were trying to foster to adopt, and it's just not a good fit.
Moki, he's so puppy, and Moki is...
Not.
And she was not having it. So, I'm like,
he'll be happier somewhere else, and he's got a lot of prospects.
So, we find cute little...
Yeah, he's adorable. He's super. So he's a really cute little...
Yeah, he's adorable. He's super young.
He's so cute. Big blue eyes.
Just fostering even for, like, days is so helpful
and so amazing and so selfless of you to do.
Thank you. I'm a hero.
Oh, like, that's how Luke's trying to get me to, like, eventually...
Well, we will eventually move out of LA,
because I don't want to raise my family here.
Do you know where you want to go?
He is trying, right now he has his brain on like Nashville,
Franklin, Tennessee, Nashville, something like that.
Oh, Franklin is gorgeous.
Tennessee is beautiful.
Because it's still entertainment, which I love.
And it's close to a big airport
if you do need to go somewhere.
And it's like closer to our family,
but it's also not LA.
I get it.
I think about Nashville.
I also am obsessed with country music.
Same, but same.
So I'm like, you're a really good singer.
I know, I wanna do more of that.
I just need, unfortunately all of my music
was made by a friend of my ex who helped me do it,
who is still a nice guy, but I'm like.
Lots of producers out here.
Yeah, it's LA.
You have a great voice and your writing is so good.
And there's some really fun songs.
Thank you.
Which you guys can find.
Yes, look them up.
They're under my name too.
But I think if you look up, not I think, I think they're under my name,
but Norma Lee Wild is what I put them out under for country.
Well, I changed it because you have one on your on your profile, on your Instagram profile. I know I like have it. Yeah, I changed it because- You have one on your Instagram profile.
I know.
Yeah, I have it linked to that actually,
that song I have,
because I had to have a song for the credits of my special.
So I just threw that up there because I don't wanna,
I mean, I don't wanna deal with trying to find,
and I'm like, why not?
Why would you use someone else's song?
Why not be like, plug my own?
It's like, and also this.
Oh my God, it's Nashville.
Yeah.
I will come visit you all the time.
He said, if I will allow him to,
that's what they start saying
when they put a ring on your finger, by the way.
Whatever you want.
Yeah, he's like, I gotta get a ring.
If I'm allowed to have acreage,
then you can have as many foster puppies as you want.
And I was like, done, when are we moving?
I'm on my way.
Dude, we rent here.
Why do men love land so much?
They really do.
It's like, what are you gonna do with it?
Own it, own it, mow it.
Just talk about how much there is.
It's so crazy.
Yeah.
Every war is just cause a man was like,
I want more property.
Like, I'll buy dirt.
Yeah, and there's nothing that makes a man happier than being like, look at my lawn.
Oh my God.
Look at my lawn.
That's so many jokes and dirty, when I think of you, I think of dirty jokes and it makes
me so happy too.
Oh, I'm so glad.
I love dirty jokes.
They're my favorite.
They're the best.
And your boyfriend just looks so like normal and sweet and gorgeous.
He is.
He's, it's a great pairing.
He's so put together.
Yeah.
God bless him.
Every day, I'm like, is this the day it all comes out
that he's been barely holding it together and he snapped?
But no, he just is like, loves the way I am.
He's very happy with...
He's really so lovely.
When you're like, find someone who just gets you.
And they just love you for who you are.
Like, you can... Like, the crazy that the sweet the this the that like no matter what and who and how you are
They're like, I know what I signed up for like I love I love all those things. I accept everything about you
Like they're like, yeah, I wouldn't trade it. Yeah, I said love
I mean Luke doesn't love when I'm crazy or yelling at him which happens on occasion occasion, especially with hormones. A pregnant woman yelling and crazy?
I don't believe it.
But he accepts it.
Yeah, he just...
Because it is not the overhaul of our relationship.
Yeah, well, and then also now, like, my boyfriend,
you know, I'll have a day or two after I go nuts,
and I go,
I'm sorry, I was just freaking out.
And the worst is when I'm like,
it was my period.
Yeah.
It's not my fucking period.
Yeah.
Oh, it is.
Yeah.
He's like, oh, are you peeing?
I'm like, am I what?
Yeah.
Probably.
You would be too if you were feeling this way.
If you were bleeding between the legs, you asshole.
Yeah, it's like, do you know what we go through?
Yeah.
Oh, you don't think you'd be a little bit of a dick?
But he just goes, yeah, it's fine.
And he puts up with, I don't want to say puts up with,
it just is a good match.
We're like, we compliment each other in a way
that it's so well balanced.
You know, it's like, I know,
it's a thing I didn't actually know existed.
Like that type of-
Same, I know exactly what you mean.
Which is so embarrassing thinking about my past relationship
where I go like, he's my best friend.
And I'm like, people just say that, right?
And now I'm like, no, this guy's actually my best friend.
Like I can tell him anything, I can be myself.
Yeah.
It's like weird, but-
It's amazing.
It's the best.
And he's not like an entertainer like you are,
which I think is such a good balance.
Yeah, he works on the other side, so he gets it.
He's like in the industry, but not a performer.
Yes, and so there's no like weird animosity or competition
which could happen.
And he also knows what my life is like
and what the ebbs and flows of things and like...
And your scheduling.
Yeah. Which can be difficult. Yeah. And he...
Which can be difficult.
Yeah. And he just goes like, yeah, that's how it is.
And we help each other and, you know, balance it out and...
Does he get to come to Alaska?
No.
I have a feeling no, because he has a pretty demanding job.
Yeah. And he... And I'm trying to make him come up there in July
for my high school reunion.
So I don't want to like wear him out on Alaska.
Oh my God.
Have you ever been to a high school reunion?
I don't know why, but I went to the tenure and they were like, can you give us a speech
or something?
They want me to do it here too.
I'm obsessed with reunions.
Oh my God.
I am obsessed.
I went to my five year.
Why we had a five year?
I have no idea.
I was like, what? We don't have a five year? It was at the bar that I literally was bartending at like months before.
I love it.
And then my 10 year, I did not go. I forget. I was obviously, this was,
how many years has it been? I graduated in 2001. So yeah. So in 2021 was my 20 year.
That's what I'm coming up on. And I didn't go, but I was like FaceTiming with a bunch of my friends. So in 2021 was my 20 year. Just kidding.
That's what I'm coming up on.
And I didn't go, but I was like FaceTiming
with a bunch of my friends.
Yeah.
But I'm just, I'm obsessed.
And Luke is refusing to go to his next one.
I'm like, come on, let's go together.
Like, I want to go to yours.
I want to meet the people you went to high school with.
And he's like, absolutely fucking not.
Yeah, that's what Nate does it.
He's like- He said maybe in 2029, which would be his 20 year.
Nate's like, that's those are your friends.
I'm going to be on the outskirts.
You just go.
But I'm like, no, I want you to come.
I want to show you off.
Yeah, no, I'm like, I want to see my hot successful boyfriend.
Yes.
I want to be like, see, I told you guys I could find someone eventually.
Exactly.
I got it.
Yeah, because I went to the tenure and it was so much fun.
I just.
I want my Romeo and Michelle moment. Yeah, I'm going, yeah, cause I went to the tenure and it was so much fun. I just-
I want my Romeo and Michelle moment, damn it.
I'm gonna be like, I'm back, bitch.
And everyone will be like,
yeah, you got along with everyone.
You didn't really have to,
there was no, you didn't need a redemption story.
That's true.
But not in freshman year.
And they're like, yeah, but you already did this.
And my tenure reunion,
I just got up for like two minutes at the beginning.
It was like, well, we all, I don't know why we're here.
We all have Facebook.
That's how much Facebook was a thing 10 years ago.
It's like, and we know everyone who's not here.
It's cause they're fat.
That's what I was like, anyways, let's get drunk.
But, and now this one is like,
there was just one thing at a bar last time,
but now there's a daytime event for the families.
And I'm like, oh, we are.
It is 20 years.
We grownups.
We are fully adults.
I like being a fun adult though.
Me too.
I can still...
Like we're still cool.
I'm like, I can still hang.
I have one drink. We're still cool
and we're still silly and like assholes,
but in like a really awesome way.
Yeah, it's given me a lot of perspective
at like this age going,
oh, I can't believe I thought that my parents were like,
just had it all together.
I know, like my mom had me when she was,
I was thinking about this the other day, literally,
I was like, okay, so when my mom was 42,
I was 15, making her life an absolute living hell.
It was terrorizing. I was 15, making her life an absolute living hell.
It was terrorizing. And I'm like, but I still don't think she was like that cool.
Like I don't think she's as cool as I am.
No, of course not.
But I'm like, my mom's good.
She is.
All cool.
Like when I was younger and she's like,
in elementary and middle school,
my mom was like in her thirties.
Yeah.
But in my mind, she was like super old and annoying.
Just old, wise, out of touch.
And I'm like, oh God, is that what we are to children?
No, we're not. We're so cool.
We're so cool.
I mean, you're a stand-up comic for fuck's sake.
Like you can't be a comedian and just be like a lame ass.
I do wonder though, if that would be like so embarrassing to a kid.
Like imagine.
I feel like it'd be so awesome.
Like if they had to be like, what do you, what do you, like, what does your mom and
dad do?
Oh, my mom's a comedian.
What?
What?
It's so sick.
Then I get letters from the PTA that's like, our children have been looking up your material.
I'm like, well, that's your fault.
Yeah.
You're like, why'd you give them Google, bitch?
Yeah.
This is so much fun.
Thank you for having me.
I'm so excited.
I can't wait to watch.
I'm so excited for you.
I wish I could be in Alaska and watch it at the theater,
but I'll watch it online, which is where you all are going to watch it.
And then we're going to talk about it after about how much fun it was.
I can't wait to meet your little girl.
Yeah, she'll be here in two months.
Do you feel ready?
Uh, I don't know. You don't want to like drag this out.
No, I mean, like, I don't know. I just want to like,
I'm ready to not be pregnant. Yeah. And like, we'll figure it out. No, I mean, like, I don't know. I just want it like, I'm ready to not be pregnant.
Yeah.
And like, we'll figure it out.
Yeah, it'll be fine.
Yeah.
It's also like, we're fine.
Everything's fine.
It's gonna be okay.
I'll just be calling all my friends with children.
I'm like, actually I have no idea what the fuck I'm doing.
Help me. Help.
How do I feed it?
It's crying at me again.
Help, help, help. You're just crying at the baby.
So please.
No, it's gonna be safe.
But we're still gonna be super fun parents.
Yeah, of course.
I can't imagine you being not fun.
You'd make such a good mom, such a fun good mom.
I think. If you ever want a baby.
You're just trying to trick me
into having one with you, you bitch.
That would be so fun.
But actually, no, I think you're right.
And hopefully, we'll see.
We'll see. Let's get this tour out of the way first.
If everyone subscribes to my Punch Up and watches my special
and shares it...
Then she's gonna get pregnant with me.
So remind everyone the website,
even though it will be, again, the guys at the bottom.
It's PunchUp.live slash JMS.
Follow me at JMS Comedy.
You could do that and it's just gonna be linked everywhere.
Yep.
Follow her.
Her Instagram is hysterical and amazing.
Her highlights are super fun, but just all of your bits are just so good.
I love you.
Yay, comedy.
We all need it.
The pandemic kind of fucked it.
Woke culture, which, you know, I'm on both sides of all that shit.
But like...
I'm in the middle of so many things.
Me too.
It's just when people started fucking with comedy,
it really started making me angry.
Yeah, it's like this... Just change the channel.
Exactly. If you're not into it, don't go.
Roll away. Yes.
Yeah, then it's like, what are we...
Let comics live.
Yeah. Also, if you're triggered that much, go to therapy.
What are you fucking doing? Like, that's your job.
Yes, that's your fucking problem.
Like, what are you doing?
Yeah, no, I am glad it feels like it's moving away from that.
And I don't want it to go into like, I just, yeah.
Let comedians just do what they love, what they're good at.
Let them do their jobs and fucking enjoy it.
Thank you. Lighten up everyone.
We all need literally this world in this country, especially.
We need comedy. We need to laugh.
We need to laugh. It's all we have.
Take the sticks out of your ass and laugh.
And laugh.
Unless that's what you're into and then stick it up.
And then enjoy the stick and still laugh.
Whatever floats your boat.
All right, Jess, I love you so much.
I love you, thank you.
And guys, thanks so much for listening.
We'll talk to you next week.
Bye.
Make sure to follow us on social media.
You can follow me on all platforms at Kristen Doty and follow Luke on Instagram at Luke
double underscore Broderick.
Be sure to click the subscribe button so you can stay up to date with new episodes.
Thanks for listening.
See you next week.
The search for truth never ends.
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So growing up, money wasn't exactly something I was taught,
and I wish someone had shown me how to save and manage it better.
I mean, I didn't learn it until way later.
So now with a baby on the way,
I'm thinking a lot about how I wanna teach my kids
those lessons early.
And that is why I'm so excited
to tell you about Acorns Early.
Today's episode is sponsored by Acorns Early.
April is financial literacy month,
the perfect time to start teaching your kids
the value of money.
Acorns Early makes it easy with their smart money app and debit card for kids. Acorns Early teaches kids that hard
work pays off with their chores tracker. You set tasks and automatically pay them when
they're done. Parents, you can track spending, set limits and automatically pay allowances.
No more scrambling for cash. It's simple. It's fun. I feel great knowing that my baby
will have these skills and with her on the way, it just fun, I feel great knowing that my baby will have these skills.
And with her on the way, it just feels like a perfect time to start.
Ready to help your kids grow money skills that will last a lifetime?
Just head to acornsearly.com slash doty or download the Acorns Early app to get started.
Sign up now and your first month is on us.
Acorns Early is issued by Community Federal Savings Bank.
Remember FDIC, pursuant to license by MasterCard International, TNC Supply.
Monthly subscription fees starting $5 per month unless cancelled.
Hey everyone, it's Kelly from Beyond the Blinds.
And I'm Troy.
And we're about to head on tour and would love to see you there.
We'll be starting in Dallas on May 13th, followed by Austin, Nashville, and Boston.
And Detroit, Toronto, Orlando, Charlotte, and Phoenix.
Grab your tickets today at xoneentertainment.com slash beyondtheblinds.
That's x thenumberoneentertainment.com slash beyondtheblinds.
See you there!