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On this episode of Speak Up, stand-up comics Jena Friedman and Kat Radley sit down for a conversation backstage. They share their experiences becoming comedians and what they’re actually afraid to say on stage. Watch this episode to get to know these women in comedy!

Speak Up was produced in partnership with Comedy Central to highlight women working in comedy.

Watch more from Kat Radley & Jena Friedman in Taking The Stand on Comedy Central Stand Up:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=2s03pjeK6LE&list=PLZAW5O34QidageSYWCMWFFR3rv3ARK3j4

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Transcript
00:00What's the dumbest question you can ask a female comedian?
00:03The question, like, tell me a joke is like saying, like, show me your tits.
00:09But, like, comedically, I'd rather just show my tits and then the conversation's over.
00:15Is it, though?
00:27You killed it last night in your set.
00:30How did you feel?
00:31You killed it in your set.
00:32We both killed it.
00:33My dad, he isn't a big fan of me being a comedian.
00:37He prefers the job I used to have.
00:39I used to be a high school teacher during the day.
00:42Yeah, thank you.
00:43The rest of you don't clap for education.
00:45That's, right?
00:47It's too late.
00:48Fuck the kids, right?
00:51But don't.
00:56That's, like, the number one rule.
00:59Are there any topics or things you won't touch or are afraid to talk about on stage?
01:04I don't talk about my personal life that much.
01:06Mostly about stuff going on in the world?
01:09Yeah.
01:09Okay.
01:09Politics.
01:10My boyfriend recently made me go to a Bernie Sanders rally.
01:14It was either, yeah, yeah, it was either that or anal.
01:17And I just, yeah, feel the burn, you know, either way.
01:24Either way.
01:25Are you your total real self on stage or is there a bit of a persona of your real self?
01:31Um, I think the more I do it, the more I am who I am offstage.
01:37It's, it's in sit-downs where I, I wear really shine.
01:41I feel like my persona on stage is sometimes a dumb drunk slut, which I think is fun, but I'm
01:48smart.
01:48I have a master's in teaching, I have a master's in teaching, I had a classroom and taught AP, and
01:51they're like, oh.
01:53I think we got some fan mail.
01:55It's really nice when you get, um, fans actually taking the time to write you a letter.
02:02Because you know it's going to be something nice.
02:04Because you know it's going to be something nice.
02:05Yeah.
02:06You know?
02:06Okay, so I'll read yours.
02:07And I'll read yours.
02:08Okay.
02:14Oh, it says, I love you.
02:16Hey, hey, are you scared?
02:19It's just, it kind of looks more like a ransom note.
02:22Oh, I know who that's from.
02:23It's, uh, this weird uncle I have.
02:25He's really working on expressing himself.
02:29But yes, I am scared to answer the question.
02:32Dear Jenna and Kat.
02:34Well, this is to both of us.
02:35How did they know we were together?
02:36Who's your favorite dead comedian?
02:39Or if you don't have one, then near dead is fine too.
02:42Uh, I would have to say it's a tie between Joan Rivers and Bill Hicks.
02:48Joan is just so funny.
02:51Just so funny.
02:52And she came up in such a tough time.
02:54And she just was so great at it.
02:57And I remember seeing her at, I think it was like the Cornelia Street Cafe.
03:01And she was like in her late 70s and making 9-11 jokes and like edgy and funny.
03:08Yeah, she stood out so much just from her generation in general.
03:11Like in addition to being a woman.
03:12I think she told one of the first abortion jokes on television.
03:16Yeah, I think so.
03:17Yeah.
03:17I would say mine is probably like Lucille Ball.
03:20I mean, when it comes to like physical comedy, I feel like no one is better than her.
03:24She's so funny.
03:25And again, she was also, like she was the first person to be pregnant on TV.
03:30Like you couldn't even like say the word pregnant.
03:32And she was the first person.
03:34Oh, interesting.
03:34She was the first woman on camera to like be visibly pregnant.
03:39Okay.
03:40This question is from Mark in Los Angeles.
03:45Are women funny?
03:48Well, Mark.
03:51Clearly, if you're watching this interview, you don't think so.
03:55Is that a question you've ever had to actually face?
03:57People do always ask like how hard is it to be a woman in comedy?
04:01And you're like, okay, like it's hard to be a woman in any capacity.
04:06Yeah.
04:07You know, people at least listen to us.
04:10That's true.
04:11We at least have a microphone.
04:12We have a microphone.
04:13I did get married five months ago.
04:16So your husband writes all your jokes.
04:17My husband writes all my jokes.
04:20In fact, I have a, he's piping in right now in an earpiece.
04:23I don't know what to say in this interview.
04:25What was that?
04:26Am I on my period?
04:28Yeah, he says I'm on my period.
04:29And that's, that sounds like a really healthy relationship.
04:32Open one of my own?
04:34Okay.
04:36Oh.
04:37That's not a good sign.
04:38The white powder again.
04:39How thoughtful.
04:40We should just make sure it's not cocaine just in case.
04:45Do you think that they're going to enable the comments on this video?
04:48That's a good question.
04:49I do read the comments.
04:51I have a hypercritical mom, so it just feels like a hug.
04:55Come, come at me.
04:57Yeah, haters on YouTube really give us some great material to work with.
05:01Come on.
05:01Come on.
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