On today’s episode, Velvet Sugar welcomes comedian Jess Xu to the podcast. Originally from New York and now living in Connecticut, Jess joins us for a fun, free-flowing conversation packed with laughs, stories, and plenty of sharp observations.We dive into food and the spices we can’t stand, Jess’s early aspirations as a competitive swimmer, and her unexpected journey to becoming an ice hockey referee. Of course, we had to talk about the New York Knicks’ exciting playoff run, along with how language and social norms have evolved over time.Jess also shares how she got started in stand-up comedy, what her parents think about her comedy career, and her experience attending college in Canada. As a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen, she offers a unique perspective on identity, culture, and the question of where “first generation” really begins.Along the way, we touch on celebrity deaths, cultural differences, and a variety of other topics that make for an engaging and entertaining listen.If you enjoy funny, thoughtful conversations with plenty of laughs, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.As always, please like, comment, share, and subscribe!

Paola is a NYC comic born in Israel with Polish roots, and this episode goes everywhere — from Israeli politics and comedy to accents, imaginary friends, and Knicks basketball.We dive into the complexity of the current conflict in the Middle East, talk about losing accents (or never losing them at all), and give our take on Kevin Hart’s Funny AF contest — what does winning that competition really mean?Plus:Which country has the most political parties?Who had imaginary friends growing up?A little Knicks talk, because of course.Tune in for laughs, honest conversation, and a little bit of everything.As always, like, share, and comment — and don’t forget to tag us when you do!

Today in the studio, we’ve got the Shoe Man himself — actor, comic, and traveling shoe salesman Danny Livingston. He walks us through his wild career on the road, selling shoes across America. He’s visited 47 out of 50 states, and along the way, he’s definitely found himself in some pretty hairy situations.We also get into how a surprising number of cults in America seem to have roots in Western New York (seriously… why is that?). Alex shares stories from his days working as a bouncer in NYC, plus we talk about a simple statistic that can actually help you avoid getting robbed.Ever wonder what to do when you're hundreds of miles from home and suddenly run out of money? We get into that too.And of course, we dive into the unique experience of eating at Russian restaurants in Brooklyn — including some surprisingly common (and unexpected) Russian names.Check out Velvet Sugar Podcast, Episode 43 — you’re going to love this one.As always, don’t forget to like, comment, share, and subscribe!