Isabel Hagen is a classical violist and standup comedian based in New York City.

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(00:00) Growing Up in an Artistic Family

(02:38) Choosing Music Over Everything

(05:06) Conservatory Dreams and Juilliard Auditions

(08:12) Getting Into Juilliard

(10:07) Realizing Music Wasn't the Future

(12:54) Discovering Stand-Up Comedy

(15:41) First Open Mics and Early Lessons

(18:27) Building a Comedy Career

(21:06) Leaving Music for Stand-Up

(24:11) Supporting Comedy Through Music

(27:01) Earning Opportunities and Growing

(30:14) JFL and The Tonight Show

(33:12) Headlining and Defining Success

(36:07) Staying Hungry as a Comedian

(38:14) Comedy, Shyness, and Observation

(40:42) Favorite Comedians and Venues

(43:01) Defining Success

(44:16) Advice for Modern Comics

Adam Shor is a comedian based in New York City.

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(00:00) Discovering Opera and Moving to New York

(03:12) The Allure and Reality of Opera Life

(06:05) Why Opera Ultimately Didn't Work

(08:48) Leaving Germany and Quitting at 31

(11:42) Identity, Failure, and Family Influence

(14:36) Motivations Required for Artistic Success

(17:25) Performance Anxiety and Vocal Struggles

(20:18) Highs and Lows of an Opera Career

(23:14) Living as a Working Opera Singer

(26:02) Resentment, Jealousy, and Artistic Environments

(29:01) What It Means When Art Doesn't Love You Back

(31:53) Regrets, Teachers, and Overtraining

(34:47) Knowing When It's Time to Quit

(38:12) Depression, Blogging, and Losing Identity

(41:18) First Exposure to Stand-Up Comedy

(44:03) Why Comedy Felt Liberating

(46:42) Early Sets, Bombing, and Learning the Craft

(49:28) Meeting Eyal and Creating Comedy Songs

(52:11) The First Time They Truly Murdered

(54:56) Social Media Growth and Moving to America

(58:02) Understanding the Algorithm and Building Fans

(61:21) Quality Control and Viral Content Strategy

(65:07) Touring, Building Audiences, and Comedy Business

(69:08) Louis C.K., Success, Family, and the Future

Shane Torres is a standup comedian based in New York City.

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(00:00) Moving from Portland to New York

(02:08) Reaching Comedy’s Ceiling in Portland

(04:11) Discovering Stand-Up and Bill Hicks

(07:18) Why Bill Hicks Mattered

(11:02) First Open Mic at Hungry Tiger

(13:48) Early Bombs and Finding Purpose

(16:02) Surviving on Service Jobs

(18:27) Living Cheap in New York

(21:01) Comedy Before Social Media Dominance

(25:05) Fame, Followers, and Premature Success

(28:12) First New York Clubs and Career Goals

(31:22) Getting Passed at The Comedy Cellar

(35:06) Respect, Community, and Recognition

(38:10) Finding Original Angles in Comedy

(42:41) Content Culture Versus Craftsmanship

(47:18) Expertise, Nuance, and Modern Media

(51:06) The Comedian’s Role in Culture

(54:02) Success, Recognition, and What Comes Next

Sally Boy is a musician based in New York City.

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(00:00) Moving From Philly to New York

(01:07) Growing Up in a Musical Family

(02:06) Discovering Guitar Through John Mayer

(04:05) Blues Obsession and Early Guitar Practice

(05:46) Piano vs Guitar Learning Curves

(07:30) Singing, Musical Theater, and Early Training

(09:47) College Music Theory Frustrations

(11:42) First Live Performances and Validation

(13:22) Forming Bluebird and Philly Recognition

(15:55) The Missed Record Deal Regret

(19:03) Creating Sally Boy and Signing Deals

(21:29) Moving to New York and Early Touring

(24:02) Finding Community in New York’s Music Scene

(26:58) Why Musicians Meet at the Bar

(29:08) The Reality of Life on Tour

(32:15) Touring, Boredom, and Mental Health

(34:46) ADHD, Routine, and Creative Habits

(36:02) New York vs Los Angeles and Defining Success

Harris Solomon is an actor, writer, and reluctant Jewish sex symbol based in New York City.

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(00:00) Moving From LA To New York

(01:48) Discovering Theater And Comedy

(03:56) A Doctor Father's Creative Influence

(05:18) High School Theater Years

(07:12) Why Comedy Helps Drama

(08:47) Columbia And Abandoning Medicine

(10:39) Choosing An Artistic Career

(12:31) Acting Training And The Groundlings

(14:11) Finding Validation As A Comedian

(16:12) Why Sketch Comedy Feels Like Math

(18:14) Comedy, Acting, And Rejection

(20:10) Landing UCB And Moving East

(22:05) Managers, Auditions, And Networking

(24:36) Social Media And Artistic Promotion

(26:19) Tutoring To Support The Dream

(28:42) Wealth, Privilege, And The Arts

(31:08) LA Versus New York Living

(34:09) Writing, Creativity, And Defining Success

Nikkole Salter is an actress and playwright, based in New York City.

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(00:00) Arriving in NYC and 9/11 at NYU

(01:48) Discovering acting through Cinderella in Los Angeles

(04:02) Early auditions and Hollywood rejection lessons

(06:43) Why child acting can be damaging

(08:37) Choosing NYU despite disliking New York

(10:38) Storytelling as an essential human service

(13:22) Acting versus celebrity culture

(15:05) Graduating NYU and surviving as an artist

(17:36) Personal training, aerobics, and early hustle years

(20:11) Touring an HIV/AIDS play with Danai Gurira

(22:49) Jealousy, purpose, and Danai’s career ascent

(26:07) Searching for a deeper storytelling mission

(29:08) Finding the role you were made for

(31:24) Stories shape reality and human experience

(34:02) Cultural programming and the power of narrative

(36:05) Reflection versus projection in storytelling

(38:19) Actor, playwright, and creative agency

(40:04) Defining success through fulfillment and potential

Derek Gaines is a standup comedian based in New York City.

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(00:00) From Jazz College to Comedy

(03:18) Failing Music Theory, Finding Jokes

(06:42) First Open Mic at Laugh House

(09:25) Five Years Building in Philly

(12:36) Competitive Open Mics and Real Crowds

(15:48) Cul-De-Sac Black Comedy Voice

(18:31) The Comedy Cellar Legend

(21:07) Moving to Jersey City

(24:02) Turnpike Janitor by Day

(27:19) Grinding Clubs Across Jersey

(30:06) Getting Better and Finding Momentum

(32:14) Gersh, Pilot Season, and MTV

(35:02) Broke-Ass Game Show Changes Everything

(37:41) Choosing Scripted Acting

(39:58) Acting and Stand-Up Feed Each Other

(42:35) Getting Passed at the Cellar

(45:26) Chasing the Flow State

(48:14) Building After the Cellar

(50:21) Success, Family, and Authenticity

Chanel Ali is a standup comedian based in New York City.

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(00:00) Moving To New York With One Suitcase

(01:24) Hitting A Ceiling In Philadelphia Comedy

(03:05) Knowing She Was A Comedian At Seven

(05:01) Weed, Truth, And Choosing Comedy

(08:12) Foster Care, Purpose, And Fearlessness

(10:22) Being One Of Two Women Comics

(12:35) Terrifying First Time On Stage

(15:18) Discovering Home Under The Spotlight

(17:36) Building Buzz Through Relentless Open Mics

(20:14) New York Arrival And Starting Over

(22:11) Michael Che And Caroline's Breakthrough

(25:04) Uber, Odd Jobs, And Survival

(27:46) Girl Code Opportunity Changes Everything

(30:42) Faith, Confidence, And Comedy Advice

(33:09) Just For Laughs And Career Momentum

(35:24) Why New York Accelerates Comedian Growth

(38:02) Reputation, Consistency, And Business Discipline

(40:44) Viral Success, Future Projects, And Defining Success