Why We Need to Laugh More with Lynn Harris of GOLD Comedy

What if laughter is more than just entertainment?

In this episode of A Beautiful Fix, Lynn Harris joins Tracy for a conversation about comedy, connection, caregiving, creativity, and why humor might be one of the most underrated forms of healing we have.

Lynn is the founder of GOLD Comedy, a comedy school and creative community helping women use humor to build confidence, connection, and careers. Together, Tracy and Lynn talk about the art of comedy, why women are still underrepresented in the comedy world, how laughter changes the nervous system, and why making people laugh is far more powerful than we realize.

They also explore:

• why laughter feels so good physically and emotionally
• how comedy helps people move through difficult seasons of life
• the relationship between humor, vulnerability, and connection
• women in stand-up comedy and entertainment
• the surprising power of improv and storytelling
• why confidence may not actually be the problem

This episode will make you laugh, think differently about comedy, and maybe remind you not to take life quite so seriously.

Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Connect with Lynn Harris:

GOLD Comedy is the online comedy school, professional network, and content studio where women, non-binary creators, and other “others" build their comedy careers, join a powerful community, and make funny stuff that gets seen on all kinds of stages and screens. Unlimited classes, community, shows, and more, all online. Join from anywhere, anytime!

 Explore here: http://club.goldcomedy.com/  

Time-sensitive class(es) + things to do

• Build and Pitch Any Idea with Ryan Cunningham (starts June 22)
  Learn more here: https://club.goldcomedy.com/plans/1971932?bundle_token=085f484b6f6e5b49e5baae0395876d5e&utm_source=manual  

For any of the above, use code GOLD10PERCENTOFF for … 10% off! 

Not sure what's for you, where to start, or how to pay? Book your FREE comedy consult with GOLD founder Lynn Harris here: https://calendly.com/chat-with-lynn-harris/chat-about-your-comedy-goals-w-lynn-harris-gold-comedy 

Instagram: @lynnharris
GOLD Comedy Instagram: @goldcomedy
Website: https://www.goldcomedy.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Personal Website: https://www.lynnharris.net/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnharris1/

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Transcript

Why We Need to Laugh More with Lynn Harris of GOLD Comedy | A Beautiful Fix

First of all, laughter is just good, full stop. There doesn't have to be anything deep about it. Laughter is good fun, and, uh, it makes all sorts of things happen in your body that make you feel good. That's it. But there is more than that, 

Welcome to A Beautiful Fix. I'm Tracy Hill. Each week we'll dive into the latest thought gem, recharging and reconnecting with what lights you up and makes you feel alive. Let's discover your next beautiful fix together.

Hey, real quick before we dive in, you're powerful, and sometimes you just need someone to remind you what's already in you. That's what Human Design does. It's the difference between guessing and knowing, so you can stop searching outside yourself and start trusting the answers within. I promise you they're there.

Grab your free chart at abeautifulfix.com, and when you're ready to go deeper, book a one-to-one session with me. All right, let's get into the episode.

Quick question for you. When was the last time you laughed so hard you couldn't breathe? Like, I mean full body, like can't catch your breath, like belly hurting, tears in your eyes kind of laughter. And why does that feel so good? Today we're talking about that. You know, and one of the reasons why I want to talk about this just really quickly is because A Beautiful Fix, it is getting your, your daily dose of something beautiful.

That can be a conversation, um, nature, whatever, but comedy is certainly at the top of that list. So today I'm joined by Lynn Harris, founder of Gold Comedy, a comedy school, creative community and content studio where women use humor to build confidence, connection, and even entire careers. Lynn believes comedy isn't just about being funny.

It's a life skill. It helps us think sharper, communicate better, and move through life with more resilience. And over the past several years, she's lived that in a very real way, caring for four aging parents while navigating loss and challenge. What carried her through was humor. She's also a generator with sacral authority and a 2/4 profile in human design, which means she's designed to follow what lights her up and build meaningful connections that naturally expand her world.

Lynn, welcome to A Beautiful Fix. Thank you. Thank you for having me. So I want to start with you and your story, but first, for someone who's listening to this who might not immediately think this is for them, why should their ears perk up when we start talking about comedy and laughing? Your ears should perk up because of...

As you said, first of all, laughter is just good, full stop. It's just, it's just, um, there, there doesn't have to be anything deep about it. Uh, it- laughter is good, funny, uh, or sorry, good fun, and, uh, it makes all sorts of things happen in your body that make you feel good. That's it. But there is more than that, and that is, you know, I do think a lot of people, when they hear the word comedy, they might have certain images or ideas that make it easy for them to say, "Okay, but not that," meaning, um, people sometimes think that, you know, all comedians have a similar personality.

You know, that we're all loud or that we're all- ... super confident, whatever that means. Mm-hmm. Um, or that we have just kind of one way of being. Uh, that is not true. They might also think that, "Oh, I'm not funny." Which, uh, we can go, I can go on about at great length, um, on that one. Uh, but the short version of that is funny comes in a lot of different formats, a lot of different styles, and, uh, a lot of different packages.

And being, the, the, the humor that you have, uh, you, like you already are funny. You have the tools and you have the material. You don't have to have a certain personality. You don't have to have a certain life. You don't have to be one of those people to whom like wacky things happen. Um, it's just a matter of paying attention, maybe learning some tools if you want to, and then finding a way to be who you already are, just with more funny.

And that is accessible to everyone. Mm-hmm. And the last thing I'll say is that women also, I, I think women in particular, and this is not our fault, tend to be the ones, the first people to say, "Oh, I'm not funny," or, "I could never do comedy," et cetera. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. And that is, and I, I again, I hasten to say that is not our fault.

It's not like, uh, because I, I think a lot of times people say, not you, but a lot of times people say, you know, "Well, um, you know, w- women just need to build confidence and that will fix everything." But it turns out that women have been building confidence for centuries- ... and we are still screaming into the void.

Mm-hmm. And that's because, um, that's because it's not, it's not on, it's not on us. We don't live in a world that was built for us. Mm. We don't live in a world that listens to us. We don't live in a world that thinks we're funny. So, um, so for us to, um, develop the confidence or whatever it is, uh, that it, that it takes to just kinda like bring more humor in our lives, it's so much easier than we think.

Because it's not about, um, it's not about fighting the, it's not all about fighting the centuries of bias, um, in, that built a world that doesn't listen to us. It's just about doing it our way. Mm. And that is much closer and much more attainable than you think. Okay. There's so much in there that I, I would love to unpack, and we're gonna, we're gonna get through a lot of it.

But first, start off with your story. Like how did- Sure ... comedy become your thing? There's not, I, I hate to disappoint, there's not really a deep story here- ... um, in terms of like an origin story. Uh, I just liked comedy. Comedy was- the conversation in my house. My parents weren't, um, comedians per se, but they were funny.

They liked comedy. My, they, they, they were, they were good, uh, eh, you know, if nothing else, a good audience, but they were also funny themselves- Mm ... just naturally. And, um, it was just what was on in the house. If it wasn't opera, it was Carol Burnett, the Muppet Show- Yes ... MASH, The Jeffersons- ... um, all the variety shows, Captain and Tennille, Laugh-In.

Oh my gosh. Um, all the f- the, all the, all the, like, nutty movies, like Airplane and the Russians Are Coming! Like, Monty Python. Yes. Like, that was, that was sort of, that was as high art in our house as, like, the Ring cycle. Yes. And so it was just normalized in our house as, like, that's what there is. What, who wouldn't be listening to comedy and, or watching comedy?

And I will say that at the time I was shown so many women comics, so many. In fact, probably m- like, the, those, the ones that stood out to me were the women, um, because they were funny. You know, Lucille Ball, obviously. Yeah. Miss Piggy. But nobody- Miss Piggy. She's back. Um- ... but nobody that I was aware of, nobody called them, at least, a- again, at least in my space, you know, nobody called them women comics.

They were just comics. Mm. So I didn't think of them as different. I just thought that was comedy. Mm-hmm. And, um, I'm not saying it was a more enlightened time, 'cause in many ways it absolutely was not, but, um, but that, that distinction did not, was not communicated to me. So I, I didn't think, "Oh, if only I could be a woman comic someday."

I was just like, "Me like comedy. Me want make jokes." Like, I didn't th- I just, I just liked it. And so, um, it's what I gravitated towards, you know, in high school, in college, just, like, that, y- you know, c- a theater, being a theater kid, playing the f- the funny sidekick, you know, all those things. And, um, I didn't have a, I didn't have a, I didn't have a clear, you know, five, 10-year plan.

You can definitely ask my parents I didn't have one. But- ... um, but I knew that that's what I was drawn to. And I also knew, again, thanks to my parents, that I cared about making the world a better place. Mm. And I gradually became exposed to a lot of people who went before me who have, have, uh, created a lot of interesting academic work and also a lot of interesting media-driven- uh, campaigns and pop culture that really capture and, and, and are driven, are fueled by the idea that comedy and social change can go hand in hand, that comedy can help drive social change for a whole bunch of reasons that we can get into.

So, um, so what became clear to me at some point, I don't know when, was that I didn't necessarily want to go all in on being a performer or a writer, you know, a sitcom writer, whatever, but that I wanted to keep finding ways that I could combine, uh, comedy tools, comedy products, comedy projects, um, with f- forwarding social change.

Wow. So I, I just wanna touch on what a gift it is to be raised in a household that honors comedy. That- Totally ... that that is something that is important, that it's, it's shared generationally between your parents and you. You know, and I say that because I was raised very similar. I mean, we love to laugh.

My father was a cartoonist/illustrator, so he was naturally funny. Um, but we would have Saturday Night Live on, and we would play the Richard Pryor albums even though, you know, um- Yeah ... y- it w- it was just something that was very important. But now that I'm older, I see so many households where that's not, that is not something that is prioritized.

Or my friends, my childrens', uh, their friends will come over, and they're, they're like, "Hey, did you see the..." And they have no idea what my kids are talking about 'cause they were raised on comedy. Right or wrong, they were raised on Saturday Night Live. We would try to make them go upstairs and go to bed.

They would sneak back down. Um- If that's wrong, I don't wanna be right. Exactly. Exactly. Like SpongeBob. I loved- SpongeBob ... SpongeBob. And so many of my childrens' friends weren't allowed to watch it, and I, I couldn't even- Hmm ... understand the connection. Like, why wouldn't you? So anyway, I just think that is such a gift.

And when you said Carol Burnett- Oh, my gosh, she was such a staple in our household. She was- Yeah ... absolutely brilliant. It was one of my favorite times to sit there and watch her show, everyone that she had on it, everything about it. Everything. So- Everything ... tell us a little bit about Gold. Like what you- Sure

created there and, and what you're really building for women. Sure. So that's a natural outgrowth of, of all the stuff I started to say, which is that comedy is a cultural force, so it matters who makes comedy. Hmm. And my, you know, theory of change is that we need more... Therefore, we need more women and, as I like to say, other others, which basically means anyone who's not a straight, cis, white dude, although many straight, cis, white dudes are great at comedy.

We just need more of the, more of the rest of us. Um, and they need to not be the norm anymore. I mean, all- Hmm ... you know, all of our late night hosts are straight, white men. Come on. It's t- I mean, it's 2020. What are we doing? Um, what are we doing? Uh, most standup, uh, there's not good research on this, but, um, uh, standup, uh, standup Lynneups are still thought to be up to 70% men all the time, which is, what are we doing?

Mm. I, I, we're all here. Like, we're, there's... It's not hard. It's like with panels, you know, that are all men. Yes. Like, it's not... It's like you have to try to not, to create a panel that's not diverse or a Lynneup that's not diverse. Um- Right ... and, uh, in, in advertising, men are more likely to be the funny one in commercials, so even that.

Mm. So, and there's only, only one woman has... They haven't done this in a while, but only one woman has ever been on the Forbes list of top, of, of 100 top-earning comics. 100, only one woman, Amy Schumer, has ever been on that list. Amy Schumer. They haven't done it in a while. The last one they did was quite a few years ago now, but, like, one.

One. And- Wow ... one. Okay. So- Now, so this matters because women are people. It matters because comedy is a job, and again, it matters because comedy is a cultural force. Um, you, who you... Comedy tells you who you should be listening to because when you make people laugh- How, how so? Because when you make people laugh, you make people listen.

And let's- Oh ... and let's just say, like, even I, I don't wanna limit our conversation only to standup, but let's use standup as an example. When you go to a comedy club and g- glory be, there's a woman on the Lynneup or just someone who doesn't look like you or someone who's different from you, the social contract you have is that when they get on stage, you listen to them for eight minutes.

You, i- ideally, you also laugh, but you listen to them. Yeah. Like, what... That's what you do. That's actually transformational, you know? Mm. If I'm, uh, if I'm... It, it could just be listening to a, you know, a white woman talk. It could be listening to a trans person talk. It could be listening to anyone who's not like you.

You listen to them talk. That's... You just listened to them for eight minutes. When did you... When else have you done that? Um, so it's, it doesn't mean that you want, that people necessarily, like, walk in hating women and walk out a feminist. It's just that it's a drip. It's... It, I mean, i- ideally. But, um- ... but it's like a, it's like a drip, drip, drip of normalizing- Yes

um, women having that power to be up there alone talking into a mic, and you listen. Yes. So it's a, it's little, but it's big, you know? And, um, so I, I just thought, man, for all these reasons, we need more women in comedy. We need to make it more easy f-... Look, comedy's hard for everyone. It's hard for the straightest, whitest dude.

They deserve- Yeah ... to succeed as well. Um, but why don't we make it easier for the people for whom it's still the hardest? Why don't we level, try to level the playing field? Why don't we try to lev- widen the funnel so that, um, it becomes less of an economic issue, uh, and less of a workplace issue and also so that, again, we have a wider variety of people contributing to this thing that is a massive cultural force?

And who can make shows like One Day at a Time, like the reboot of One Day at a Time that, that, that normalized... That was, like, about a n- quote unquote normal, regular American family, but they were also immigrants. Mm. So it just normalized, you know, an immigrant family as a normal American, quote unquote normal American family.

But also sometimes it highlighted and showcased some of the d- special challenges they faced, but that was after that they had built, built the viewers' trust. That it, that was after they had- Yes ... kind of formed a relationship with the viewer, and then they could be like, "Also, here are some issues we face."

But it's comedy, so, like, it's you're not being scolded. You're not, um- Yes ... being r- being lectured to. Uh, so it's this c- it's this such an important delivery system, whether it's about a political issue, uh, it may be, um, or not. Like, just again, if you- if I'm on stage doing stand-up and I'm just talking about, I don't know, my weird family and my annoying job, it doesn't have to be a political issue, but just the fact that people have to listen to me for eight minutes is also transformational in its own way.

So that's the, that's the idea with Gold. Let's just make it easier. Let's give women some, you know, it... And again, other others, um, a bro vibe free space to c- form a community, join a powerful p- um, professional network, make stuff together, collaborate on things, um, and, and build their careers or even their, you know, creative side hustles or passion projects.

Um, let's just make it easier so there's more of us out there. So Lynn, you know, you just put a whole nother layer to comedy- ... for me, 'cause when I think of comedy, I think it's, first of all, it's very underrated as an art form in terms of- Yeah ... how challenging and hard it is. I mean, I don't care if you are a beginner and you're going to an open mic, terrifying.

That takes so much courage to do that and to be that vulnerable, or if you are someone who is selLynng out major stadiums. There is an art form to the timing, reading the room, the art of storytelLynng, and now you just layered on kind of a social responsibility. Do you feel like comedians and, I mean, women, but maybe all comedians feel that?

Do they feel that when someone hops on the stage who is a woman or, um, maybe a person of color or someone that isn't as repre- do you think they carry that weight on their shoulders or not necessarily? I do, and I, but I'm not saying they should, right? Mm. Because, um, it's unfortunate that we still do, honestly.

Yes. We just wanna get up there and be funny and do our jobs. Yeah. Right? Yes. Or, or be in a writer's room and do our jobs. Or- Yes ... I mean, and this could be, this could be the same for so many, so many industries, right? Like, being the one of who you are in the room. All of a sudden you're that one as opposed to just doing your job, right?

Yes. So that's why normalizing- Yeah ... is so important. Um, and then normalizing comes with numbers. So that's why we wanna, we just, we, we, we wanna make it, like, not so interesting that there's a woman doing comedy or whoever we are, right? Right. Because when s- a- again, I don't wanna make it only about stand-up, but- If you're the only woman on a stand-up Lynneup, which again, which happened throughout the '90s when I did stand-up, and it still happens, checks watch, in 2026.

Um, it, it, when you... This is very, I, this is true. When every dude on that Lynneup has, I keep saying eight minutes, whatever it is, every dude on that Lynneup has eight minutes to prove that he's funny. But if you're the only woman, you have eight minutes to prove that women are funny. Totally. And that's not fair.

Totally. And actually, that's why it actually behooves, I think, and I'm not the first person to say this, Cameron Esposito, one of my favorite, um, comics who has said a, who I sort of developed a lot of my theory of change from stuff that she's written, um, she's pointed out that like, actually, dudes, it behooves you to have a more diverse Lynneup because if it's like white dude, white dude, white dude, you know, woman of color, white dude, white dude, white dude, who stands out?

She does. Yeah. And, you know, you, the, people might leave, even if you have a great set, right? People might leave the audience going like, "Oh, I like that guy. What was his name? The, uh, you know, the white dude- Yes ... who talked about his girlfriend." It's all of them, you know? It's- It's all of them right So even if you're, even if you're great, it's better for you to be on, um, a diverse Lynneup 'cause then you can be you.

Mm-hmm. Yes. Yes. That, that's so true. Um, and I guess the reverse is true as well when you think of, now that you say that, I think about watching, um, Def Comedy Jam, and then there's a white guy on there. Like, he absolutely stands out, and you're, you know, it, it, so it's, it's, it's true both ways. But, um, do you feel like people may hide? Wh- when you think about people that are naturally funny, like they're just the person in the group that's making people laugh, is part of that, covering, not covering up for something, but they're, they're being performative with their life?

Maybe. Maybe. Kinda. But I'm not sure that it matters. It's possible, but I think, you know, I think we're all performative with our lives, all of us. Mm. Mm. It might be, I mean, you know, RuPaul said it, "We're all born naked and the rest is drag," right? So we're all doing something, you know? Yeah. Some people gravitate toward comedy.

Some people gravitate toward, I don't know, uh, you know, uh, fashion. You know, whatever it takes for them to, um, whatever it is, you know, for, it could be masks. That's a good point. I don't know. Yeah. You know, like whatever, um, whoever, we're all kind of choosing how we show up in a room, all of us. Totally.

Totally. So I'm not sure, uh, uh, you know, I mean, sure, people do talk about how comedy can, you know, it can like be a deflector- You know, for, you know, people, I guess individuals, I guess, could use, can use comedy to kind of deflect feeLynngs. But I don't know. It's, uh, there's... I'm not saying that we don't, but you could also argue- We all do

not necessarily as a counterpo- right. We all, A, we all do, and B- Yeah ... this isn't necessarily a counterpoint, but it's just a different point, which is that, um, comedians are so skilled, skilled comedians are so skilled at molding difficult or even traumatic topics and experiences into comedy. Mm. And that is, talk about an art form or a skill.

Definitely. Because what they're doing there is actually not deflecting. What they're doing is diving into it, but finding a way to talk about this thing, you know, this incident or this problem or this challenge or this, um, social ill that, um, illuminates what's wrong with it, but doesn't make light, but, th- without making light of it.

It, it, there's ways to find, you know, there's ways to use comedy tools, and you need to be skillful to, to illuminate, you know, let's say, you know, talking about, you know, trigger warning, talking about sexual assault, right? But using comedy to illuminate the pers- the ridiculousness of, of the culture that allows it to persist, you know?

"But he's the swim captain. He couldn't have done that." Like, you know. Um, a- and, and, and, and, um, or whether it's about their own personal... I mean, I've seen comedians do incredible work- Mm ... whether in stand-up sets or solo shows or whatever, around really profound childhood trauma that actually makes the audience feel comfortable and at home.

Yes. Um, you don't wor- you're not like, "Are they okay?" Because they're... No. Yes they are, because they're skilled at, they know what they're doing. Yes. And they're using the, um, precision of their writing and the distance that they now have. They're almost creating the distance in a, in a, in a salutary way to describe, to hold this thing that happened to them, whatever it is, at arm's length, and then be able to be like, "Okay, but really what's funny about this?

Okay, but not that, but maybe this." Like looking at, like, a multi-sided die, you know, die from Dungeons and Dragons, you know? Like, that's, okay, that's not funny. Okay, that's o- okay, this pa- this side is funny. Um, and then drawing the audience in in a way that either explicitly says or telegraphs like, "I'm okay.

We're gonna all find the comedy in this together." And then, like, take it down a notch, and then you take away some of the power of whatever this bad thing is or was. Yeah. So it can... Sure, I guess it can be like a deflector shield, but it can also be, uh, really a, a, a, a sort of, uh, heaLynng bright light. That's what I was gonna say, heaLynng.

I think comics have a way to heal, um- the world because sometimes when you're going through your darkest moments and you can turn on the TV and someone can make you laugh, or they can t- to your point, they can talk about something that is so heavy that is weighing on our heart, and you find yourself laughing at it.

Um, it's a gift. But I remember what I was gonna ask you, Lynn. Um, we were talking about just, you know, women in comedy, and I'm wondering, you mentioned Amy Schumer being on the list. You've got the Melissa McCarthys, the Kristen Wiigs, uh, Maya Rudolph, Wanda Sykes. I mean, the list goes on now. Is it easier? Ha- has that door been kind of opened or not really?

We are grownups, and your listeners are grownups, so, uh, we can handle what I'm about to say, which is that two opposite things are true at the same time. Okay. One of them is, yeah, it's so much better. Um, it's so much better for a whole bunch of reasons that we can go into or, or, or I can point to a whole bunch of indicators that we can go into.

It's also unbelievable how bad things still are. And both are true. Both are true. So yeah, there's still, you know, Lynneups that are a- that'll have one woman. There- Nick's Comedy Stop in Boston, I see you, Nick, and you put this on Instagram, so I'm gonna say that... Not, not Nick the person, Nick the pla- I see you 'cause you put this on Instagram, over last summer had a show called Ch- uh, Chicks at Nick's that they advertised with the heads of the w- women who were performing on disembodied Barbie legs.

Now, d- uh, those women commented in the comments that they were like, "Ha ha ha, that's funny." That's fine. I don't care. They, they can... I'm not judging the individual women. I'm just like, if you're doing that in 19- in twen- 19, see? Uh, if you're doing that in 2026, Nick's, you're telLynng me that you're not that interested in supporting women comics or having women in your audience, and you're kind of telLynng me you're bad at your job.

Mm. So that's just dumb, and that happened in 2026. So- Okay ... um, maybe it was '25. I think it was last summer. It doesn't matter. Um, and that's just a tiny thing. Like, that's just a tiny thing, but, but I know women absolutely are still complaining about, and rightly, about bias in Lynneups, bias in writers' rooms, bias in pay, uh, bias in, you know, still being called comediennes, as if we're, like, an auxiliary to the, to the real guys, you know?

So, um, but at the same time, you'd... I mean, uh, uh, it's, to just name a bunch of women co- I mean, like, that isn't even, like that's... I mean, we can sit here all day and name fantastic famous women comics, and that wouldn't even be, uh, uh, it, that wouldn't even scratch the surface of just it's not just that women- That there are more, which is greater.

I don't know if there are more, but you know, more visib- more visibility and more normalizing of, of women doing comedy. It's also that women have power in comedy spaces. Mm-hmm. Um, you know, women have, you know, their, you know, women are showrunners. Women are, you know, all the, you know... Women are, uh, development executives.

Women are choosing the shows that get made. Women are doing the hiring, you know? So it, that means something. And also, um, there's technology, um, which has, is not the, you know, is not magical, but it means that, uh, so many... It, it is dec- it is for sh- t- technology has for sure democratized access. Mm. Meaning, uh, you can build your brand b- in or...

You can build your brand without ever getting on a stage. I don't recommend it, but w- depending on what, yeah, depending on what you're doing. You can, you can. You can build... I shouldn't say I don't recommend it. You can build your brand depending on what your brand is without ever, um, you know, without living in New York, Chicago, LA, Boston.

Um, you can build your brand on social. You can, um... A lot has changed with the way, um... Samantha Bee's show pioneered this. They w- uh, i- they certainly were one of the big ones, um, to pioneer this, if not the first ones. Um, and that was doing bLynnd, um, what do you call it? Not bLynnd admissions, but bLynnd hiring.

They would read people's packets, which are these, like, things you have to submit to work on a, on a late night show, that, that show ex- you know, you provide examples of what you would write that match what the show already does. Um, and they instituted, uh, reading them bLynnd. They didn't know, you know, if your name was so-and-so and your dad was on the Harvard Lampoon, you know?

Mm-hmm. They didn't know anything. And look, guess what? They wound up with a, um, very diverse and talented staff. So, and that is becoming more and more the norm, that we're not just gonna hire you 'cause your dad w- you know, my dad was on, did improv with your dad at Harvard or, you know, whatever, so. Right. Um, so which is all of The Simpsons, but we love The Simpsons, but still.

Um- Anyway, um, so, uh, no shade to The Simpsons, but things have changed. Um, so, uh, i- so the access is not, again, not... It still takes 10 years to be an overnight success, but there is certainly- Mm ... um, some of the gatekeeping has changed- Mm ... um, in a very profound way. That's amazing. Have you ever read Malcolm Gladwell's book BLynnk?

Mm-hmm. He talks about that phenomenon. He talked about it, though, with orchestras. Yeah. They used to only have men as the first chair only. Right. And the maestros would argue because they're the better, they're stronger, they're, you know. And they started doing bLynnd auditions, and they could not- Yep ... see who was auditioning, and every time- Yep

it was a woman. It's, it's- Yep. I'm telLynng you ... put it in. So, Lynn, what type of woman comes to Gold Comedy? Why, why are they coming to you? Do they want to be a comedian? Do they wanna do this just, they wanna just become funnier? They wanna do something in their pastime? Like, what kinds of women do you see?

Typically, we see women and, uh, we also have many non-binary members, many, um, all sorts of other others, uh- Okay ... who are collectively seeking, uh, every... The, the one thing that we can say to everyone, and the one, the one thing we can say about everyone is that we have no bro vibe. No bro vibe. And in a world where people use many, many different pronouns and have many different shifting identities, that's what we can promise.

Um- Mm-hmm ... and that's really what people are es- they're... That's really what people are escaping/looking for. Yeah. Um, but yes, predominantly, um, predominantly women. Um, many are what we call comedy serious. You know, many are beginning or in the middle of a comedy career. Many are, many of them are adding to a comedy career.

Like, we have, um, Benita who, um, is from Louisville, who's awesome, and she had done mostly acting and improv. Actually, she wound up teaching improv for us. But then, uh, she started doing stand-up with us, and now she performs stand-up all over the East Cor- East Coast, and she says, "I blame you, Lynn." But, um, and she's a really successful stand-up.

So she, you know, amplified her career. We have, uh, people who are already doing kind of their own thing but want some collaboration. We have sketch teams. We have teams that make digital sketches, like the ones you see that are, like, onLynne or associated with SNL. Um, we support-- We put the teams together.

Like, they apply and we assemble the teams. So someone might have been, like, just sort of a sketch writer on her own or an actor or even, like, a producer or sound person, and then we help them get to the next level by putting them on a team where they can, um, you know, find their, find their collaborators and do it together.

We also have a lot of women who, yes, um, may not be either pursuing a, a first or new comedy career, as in quitting their day job and making an entire pivot, but they come to us because they are ready to pursue, to really dive into a creative side hustle or a comedy-related or entertainment-related passion project.

So for example, we have, um, a lot of women who may even be, have been, like, peripherally involved in entertainment, like maybe marketing or... And we have, uh, others who are, like, uh, veterinary surgeons and, um, actuaries and all sorts of other things, but who are like, for example, "I have an idea in my head that has been living rent-free in my head and my notes app for a decade, and it is time that I figure out what to do with it, but I don't know what- Mm

and I don't know how." So we have a class, um, that is kind of a perfect fit for that- psychographic, um, that where you learn with a producer from Bo- Broad City how to develop your, that idea, whatever it is. Typically a TV show, but not necessarily. Could be film, could be, um, unscripted, uh, web series. How to take that idea that you don't know what to d- like, you know, just in your head, like, y- I don't know, a comedy set in a, set in a, in a vet- veterinary office.

You know, I don't know, something. Um, and you're like, "I should..." You know that thing you have where you're like, "I should really do that someday," and your friends are like, "You should do that," and you're like, "Yeah, but I don't know how. Like, what- Yeah ... it's not a lack of confidence, Tracy. It's not a lack of confidence.

These women have plenty of confidence. They literally just don't know what to do. Right. Like, nobody tells you. No one's like, "Oh, here," you know, "Oh, just Google it." You can't Goo- g- you can't really Google how to, like, develop and pitch an idea to, you know, at, at that, uh, at that level of d- depth and, um, and, and the, the, the level of, uh, professionalis- professional, whatever the word is.

The, uh, the, the, the, ah, what's the word I'm looking for? The, the, the level that it needs to be at for you- Yeah ... to actually make it happen, right? Um, so, you know, Claude can only tell you so much. So- Yeah. Um, so this class is that, and it helps you develop... Ryan, the producer from Broad City, is amazing, and she helps you, um, develop the idea until you are, like, it's in your soul.

Um, you can answer any question about it. You know why it, why now, why you, and then you can start creating your, your, your slick deck and your presentation and all those things. So you come out with just being able to live and breathe this idea that has already been, you know, living in your head or your, or your drawer.

Um, and then you come out with the capacity to actually pitch it and know what to do next. And so there's a lot of women in that class who, um, who, you know, again, may, may be peripherally involved in entertainment or not, but who are extremely serious about... You know, maybe f- maybe they have a little more time.

Maybe they're, maybe they're about to have an empty nest, or maybe they are, they've achieved a, a certain level in their career where they're still working hard, but they're not- Mm-hmm ... like, grinding every day. Um- Yes ... and they just have a, they just have, like, a little bit more head space. Um, so we have a lot of...

I mean, that's, they're sort of... You know, and they're, a lot of them are, like, in their 40s, 50s, like, older, you know, um, and they're really, really serious. So I don't, I d- I don't wanna make a distinction about, like... The distinctions we make are not about how serious someone is. Um, it's just about what they, what they sp- specifically wanna be working on- Yeah

and how much is that, like, how much of the pie plate of their, of their career, um, is that taking up. Well, I think everyone should minimally take an improv class, just minimally. It just, it's freeing. It, it makes you better at just about anything, to be on your feet. Yeah. And they're just- Yeah ... fun. Yep. What, what actually makes someone good at- comedy?

I- i- is there a way to simplify that? Working and listening. Mm. What I mean by work is reps. I mean, Malcolm Gladwell talks about that too, like it's reps. Mm-hmm. I mean, you could- Yeah ... have your, you know, if you have like, think of the funniest person you know, and then think of the hardest working person you know.

If they both, if they, uh, if... The hardest working person you know is gonna do better in comedy if they put their mind to it. Mm-hmm. Um, they just are. And, uh, it's, it's reps, reps, reps, reps, reps, reps. Um, it sounds unglamorous. Um, it, it sounds, it's just like, mm, kind of like any other job. It's the practice. Yes.

Um, but it's also listening. That's what people don't... It, it goes back to what I was saying at the beginning. You mentioned reading the room- Yeah ... which is crucial. Yes. Um, it really trains you, not just to like, "Just be the funny one. To be the loud one." "To always have a joke." Um, it's, it's... I mean, 'cause that's also exhausting.

Um- Yeah. So it's like knowing when to, when there's not a joke, you know? Knowing when you need a minute, knowing when you don't have to, if you're doing crowd work, you know, "Mm, there's not a joke yet. Ask some more questions," you know? Yes. Um, it's having a sense of how to connect with, with, with an audience, which is also just people.

Um- And that also takes practice. But, um, I would say those are the two, the... Reps and listening are- Yeah ... are really... Everything else is like ne- is necessary, but like table stakes. Yes. But the secret... It, of course you have to learn how to write a joke. Of course, like yeah, of course. Yeah. Um, but the, the two that are, that are just like, that make all the difference, reps and listening.

And, and I was gonna offer up being observant. I think some of the- Mm-hmm ... greatest comedians, they find that one little thing, you know, that most people may just miss. Yeah. And it just makes- Well- ... it so relatable ... you could, this is not the only place I would put it, but you could put that with reps and here's why.

Um, and it's something I actually recommend to people, um, if they're just like, "Where do I start?" Or like, "I don't know if I wanna take a class, but I, you know, uh, it might be fun to just have some more humor in my life." Uh, or, or the people who say, um, "I would do comedy, but like, nothing funny happens to me," which is not a prerequisite- Ooh

for doing comedy. It's not. Okay? That's storytelLynng. It, even at, maybe not even that. Um, so what I recommend to people is y- I don't care if it's a notebook or your notes app or whatever, just like whatever it is, write it down. You notice like, you know, someone's, I don't know, something, something that someone says to someone else on the subway, um, you know, the, uh, someone wearing two different sneakers on the subway.

Like, I don't know. I live in the city, you can tell. But, um- ... but like, I was just thinking like even I'm drinking water and I have, I'm getting like lipstick on my cup, right? So like, lipstick on my cup is not- funny. It's just a thing, right? But I don't know, it could be funny. Like, so I would just write down lipstick on my cup, and then I would start...

And I would, if I sat and thought about it for a second, I'd be like, "Okay, right. My kids always tease me 'cause they always know which cups I've been using." Or like, and that's not funny yet. It's not a joke, but it's, I don't know, it's a thing. It's kinda funny. Now, it, I don't know, it could be. I, it's not a joke yet, but it's, it's something.

And, um, uh, uh, and maybe it's nothing, but if I don't write it down, I'm never gonna know, right? Yes. And so, and you will forget. I don't care how young you are. Oh. It's not about age. You will forget. If you think, you're like, "Oh, that's, uh, that could be something. I'm gonna write it down, but I'll do it later."

Nope, you're gonna forget. Yes. So I just think write down everything or d- at least talk into your voice thing, whatever it is. Um, and then, you know, every week or, every week or two, um, just see what you wrote down, and probably 90% of it is, like, you don't even remember what it is, and it's just like, meh. But, like, maybe two things are like, oh.

And g- you know, it gives you an idea for something else, and that's practice. Because we notice things all day long, but what we don't do is notice that we're noticing, and that's... And the notebook or the voice memos is what helps you create the practice, and that's, that's why the sort of being observant that you're talking about- Yeah

it's because comics have typically trained themselves to notice those things. Yeah. Some, maybe some of them are, like, automatically better than others, who knows? But they still have to train themselves, um, to notice those itty-bitty things and write them down. And you- Like, who do you- And so can you. Who do you find that's funny?

Who, who, who would you- ... consider someone that makes you laugh? Um, I'm, like, actual comedians these days? Yes. Mm-hmm. Um, uh, I'm obsessed with a few, um, I, I mean there's... All right, I'll give you my eternal ones. Um, I love, you mentioned Cameron Esposito. I love her. Um, I am obsessed with Maria Bamford. Ooh. Um, I am, and I'm obsessed with Bob the Drag Queen, who is an amazing drag queen and also extremely talented stand-up.

He does just stand-up. Like, he's, he's great. Um, I love, um, there's a comic sh- I don't know if you ever saw the show. This is, she's not obscure, but this, she was on the show Mythic Quest, which was one of my favorite comedies. No. Um, she was the beleaguered HR person. Um- Her name is, her, uh, the actr- her name is, um, Naomi Ekperigin, and she's always been one of my favorite comics.

Um, she, you can find, she's on, like, Late Night a bunch, and she's, you know, she's, she's easy to find. She's, I'm waiting for her to, like, fully, fully break through. Um, but those are some of my favorites. Wow. I'll have to look them up. I, Maria Bamford I think I'm familiar with her, but I was, I thought you were gonna say, like- Is it Nikki Glaser?

Is that her name, Nikki? Nikki? Oh yeah, sure. I like her. Okay. Yeah, yeah. Okay. Yeah, yeah. Um, well, so I wanted to weave in a little bit of human design with this. Sure. So I mentioned at the... Are you familiar with human design at all? A little bit from you. Okay. A little bit, okay. So you're a generator with a sacral authority, and all that means is, I'm a generator as well, you transmit beautiful energy when you're doing something you love.

Yeah. Like, just talking to you now, that's generator energy. But if you're doing something that you don't love, it drains. It drains that energy. Yeah. And then you have sacral authority, literally meaning, like, your gut talks to you. It- if you listen, your body is telLynng you what it has energy for. So if I were to say right now, like, "Hey, Lynn, let's go to the Bahamas," you might be like, "No, that sounds horrible, uh-uh."

Like, your body will tell you, "Uh-uh." You can feel it, but a lot of times we override it. Or, um, you'll feel a visceral, "Yes." So, uh, the thing is with women, it's, with all of us, it's just r- listening, listening and, again, you know, not overriding what our body's telLynng us. But the 2/4 profile I wanted to bring up with you, because what that is is the Lynne two is what they call the hermit in human design.

What that means is solitude for you is a non-negotiable. Like, when you want your quiet alone time, it is magical. It's like that's when you can really hone your skills. Um, and then you'll, you'll come back and you'll be as social as you wanna be, you know, later on, but you have to kind of honor that time.

Also, Lynne twos are born with a natural gift. They're just, something that's effortless to them where they don't even necessarily maybe see it as a gift. And typically, sometimes they can't see it. Others have to kind of tap you and say, "Lynn, you're really good at this." And then the Lynne four is, I'm also a Lynne four, it just means that our network is gold.

Our opportunities in life are gonna come through connections. They're gonna come through people kind of that we know. So I'm just curious. That was just a little, little taste. How does that feel to you? Does any of that resonate with you? Oh, yeah. Um, especially the... I don't know if I really believe in the designations introvert/extrovert, 'cause m- m- 'cause most people I meet are like, "I'm both."

So I'm like, "Okay." Um, but- It, there's a new one, by the way, but go ahead. Oh, what is that one? 'Cause I- It's called, it's called outrovert. I just learned about this. Oh. So there's introvert, extrovert, ambivert, which is kind of both. Oh, ambivert. Yeah, yeah. Okay. And then, then outro- outrovert. That's, that's the latest.

Okay. Um- But the thing about solitude is so true. Like, I'm an only child. I, you know, I'm used to... But I also, like, cannot... It's, like, both. Like, I cannot, um... It's like one is food and one is water, right? Like, being alone and being, and, and, and collaborating. Like, I'll, I'll be alone for a while, and it'll be great, and I'll, y- and then I'll be like, "I'm thirsty," you know?

And, like, I can't, like, not be with other people. Yes. Um, and then I'll be like, "I'm full," you know? And then, um, have to be away. Yes. So it's both. Yeah, for sure. So being a two-four, you have to learn that balance because one part of you is saying, "We need the solitude," and it is. You need it. It's, it's, it's golden.

And then the other part's like, "We need our people. We need our network. We need our connections." So yeah, it's just kind of finding that balance. But it's just fun. But Lynn, before we go to the speed round, I'm just curious, is there anything that we haven't touched on that you feel is important to share or a message you would really like to leave with people?

I really would like to leave especially women with... I would like to unburden women from- Mm ... feeLynng like they have to, like, produce confidence. I was just reading an article about it today, so it's, like, on my mind, but I've been thinking about this for a long time. Like, y- you just don't. Like, you're fine.

Um, typically, what saps confidence is not you. It's the persistent bias against you. Mm. Like imposter syndrome, I don't know, maybe you're just in a room that wasn't built for you. Yeah. You know, maybe you're just not getting support and feedback to support... I mean, maybe... Come o- I, I... You know, I'm just tired of it being our problem, and I'm tired of it, uh...

Because also, the fixes don't work, right? Mm-hmm. We're like, "I'm more confident," and yet there's still patriarchy, you know? It's like it doesn't- I, I don't... And so I just wish that... I, I just want women to kind of follow their, uh, follow the, the, the, the, the tractor beam that's tr- that's, that's... Like, for me, it was comedy and others, and writing, other stuff, that, um, that draws them.

And if they're not feeLynng super confident about it, that's normal 'cause nobody does. Mm-hmm. But it's not your problem. It's theirs. And just do the thing anyway. Don't wait for them to give you confidence. Don't wait for you to give you confidence. Just do the thing. Do the thing. It, it's just- Do the thing

a whole red herring. It's just a whole red herring. Yeah. Don't worry about con- Just forget about confidence. Just forget it. Don't worry about it. I- Just do the thing. Sometimes you're nervous, sometimes you're not. Just do the thing. Just forget it. Do it anyway. Yeah. I totally agree. Well, Lynn, what makes you come alive?

Uh, dinner parties. Ooh. Yeah. I just love a dinner party. Yes. Not like, you know, with, I mean, with my people, you know? And, um, and- Sure ... just, like, good food, the right number of people so that you're all kind of talking, like, at, at once, but sometimes you break out, like, maybe six people, you know? And- Yes ... um, delicious food that k- that's kind of easy, not fussy, that just keeps coming, and, you know, fantastic conversation that's not necessarily like, "So what do you do?"

But just, like, topics that flow and laugh and laugh and laugh, and good music at dinner parties. Ooh. Especially if they're outside. Love that. Are you outside right now, by the way? No. I'm near... Like, it's a really beautiful, sunny day in New York City. I was tempted. I, I was almost gonna go outside 'cause it's so nice out, but- Yes

it's also New York City, so there's- ... it, there's sometimes, um, you know... And we live, the hospital's, like, right there, so sometimes there are sirens and things, so. I love it, though. It just, it makes me feel like I'm in New York right now. Well, what i- what is a song that instantly shifts your energy or makes you feel something?

Oh my God, there are so many. I was actually worried about this before- I know ... 'cause I was like, is it fair to say literally everything- ... that Dolly Parton, Prince, and Brandi Carlile, and Aretha FrankLynn ever sang, 'cause I don't think that's- Oh my gosh ... um, I don't think- It's an answer. Um, um, but then I have this one random, like, skinny white dude song that also gets me on my feet every time, which is, um, MMMBop by Hanson.

It's just- Oh my God. It's a bop. It's a literal bop. Yes. It's the boppiest. It's the original bop. Um- It absolutely is. Yeah. But all the... I mean, I just, um... And Marc Anthony too. I was listening to- Oh ... I was so tired and I put on Marc Anthony last night, and I couldn't stop dancing, and I... You know, so al- also Marc Anthony.

All of them. I love m- I just love... I am very, I very much relate, like, certain artists and music to, like, the soundtrack of my life, like what I was listen- Yes ... listening to when... I'm not the only one, but, like, it's very, it's a big deal for me. Yeah. So it was really- It's- ... hard to choose. It's an, it's an impossible question, but- Yeah

Marc Anthony. Can we just talk about Marc Anthony for a second? Oh. I mean, come on. He, again, I'm gonna use the word again, underrated. He has one- Yeah ... of the most beautiful voices of our time. I know. I agree. He's m- he... Beautiful. Just, ugh, I know. And that song- Okay ... um, the one that kills me, it's a, it's really popular, the one that's « Voy a vivir, voy a bailar

The, I, I, that song, it's like you can't be... You, it's... Okay. So women, if you're worried that you're not confident enough, just put on that song. That's it. Okay. And forget about confidence. All right. Just have fun. Okay. I'm gonna have to pull him up on my Spotify. Um, how about a book that cracked you open or stayed with you long after the last page?

Well, my favorite opening Lynne, I have a million favorite books, but my favorite opening Lynne of a book ever, because it's so subversive and revolutionary, is the opening Lynne, it's a great book too, um, is the opening Lynne of, uh, The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston. Mm-hmm. I read it in college, and the opening Lynne is, and I might get a word wrong, but it's basically this, "You must not ever tell anyone," comma, said my mother, "what I am about to tell you."

And the whole book is what her mother just told her. No. So she's totally telLynng. Um, but- Right ... you know? So it's just, I was like, "What?" You know? Ooh. And so I just, I, I'm like, that's the best opening Lynne. That really is, 'cause I'm- And I love, and the book delivers ... I was like this, "Well, what, what is she, what is she telLynng you?"

Mm-hmm. That, that's a great opener. Yeah. The whole book is what her mother is about to tell her. Um, your favorite little indulgence or guilty pleasure? I don't know if it's guilty, but it's gotta be truffle po- truffle potato chips. Ooh. Or truffle popcorn in a pinch. Uh, but any- Okay. ... truffle fries. Anything with truf- Truffle

any, in the truffle, truffle trifecta of, um, potato chips, fries, or popcorn. I just- Ooh ... I love that. I love that flavor. Love it. What's one thing that always reminds you how beautiful life really is? Um, okay, bragging. It's, it is crappy, but we do have a roof deck, um, here in Brooklyn, and it's kind of falLynng apart and spLynntered, whatever.

Hmm. But I go up there almost every day, even when it's cold, and there's always something beautiful. Like, it's like the Statue of Liberty. Mm-hmm. Um, or, um, you know, the fact that, like, m- my little, you know, the little buds that come back on the plants that I have up there. Yes. Or just, like, seeing someone else a few blocks away out on their deck, like whatever it is.

Or, um, just a particularly good sunrise or sunset or whatever. The obvious stuff, but it's all, it's, it's all about the deck. Oh, that's the song I was gonna mention. That's the song. I was... I, I did come up with one. Um, The Supremes song, Up the Ladder to the Roof. That's the song. Oh. Perfect. It's such a good song.

Up the Ladder to the Roof. It's like, it's like Motown but a little gospely and a little bit like- Yes ... it's so good. It's so... It's the best song. So, yeah. I love your range. I love your, your musical range.

So Lynn, tell everybody how they can get in touch with you or the best way to, to get in contact with you or find out more about Gold Comedy. Sure. Thank you. Uh, you can visit goldcomedy.com. You can find us on Instagram at Gold Comedy, and also I'll provide for you in the show notes, um, you can also just, uh, make an a- make an appointment to talk to me, um, because people often have questions about how Gold works and what class is right for them and when is the right time to start and what's it all about, so I'm happy to just get on the horn and answer any of those.

So I'll send you a link for, uh, for that as well. Perfect. Thank you. Sure. So I wanna share something with you. This is something I've s- recently started. The end of each episode, I just pass along a little love note from the previous guest.

They don't know who it's gonna go to. Oh, okay. Just something simple. And so for, for you, your note is from Ilana Auerbach, and she's the creator of The Sure Thing, uh, love experiment. She's also the author of The Sure Thing, which is all about helping women reconnect with their bodies, their desires, and their sense of pleasure.

So definitely check out that episode. Um, but her note is to notice how often you say, "I'm sorry." Ugh. So many of us, so many of us use it out of habit, and it can quietly just shrink us, so save it for when you truly mean it, and give yourself permission to take up space without apologizing for who you are.

Thank you. I love that one. I try to tell my kids that one and yeah, I usually... I've changed it in my... I have like a little, this, like a thousand times yes. I have like a little macro on my, you know, for, like, writing things fast, and it doesn't say I'm sorry. It says, "Thank you for your patience." Yes. 'Cause I never say sorry unless I actually have to apologize for something.

So I'm so glad to receive that note and, uh, I still, I still have to work on the habit, but I am committed to- Yes ... stopping it. Perfect. Well, thank you. And to everyone listening, maybe this is your reminder that life doesn't have to feel so serious all the time. You're allowed to laugh. You're allowed to feel good.

And until next time, keep getting high on life one beautiful fix at a time. Thanks, Lynn. Thank you.

Thanks for listening to A Beautiful Fix. If you enjoyed today's episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review to help others find us. And if you'd like to share your own beautiful fix or join me as a guest, reach out any time at tracy@abeautifulfix.com. Looking forward to next time.