CleoPODtra

SEASON ONE FINALE! In this ep, Lynn and Christie chat with Mikel Albagdadi about his upbringing in Louisiana to Iraqi & Jordanian-Syrian parents; his veterinarian dad who wouldn't let them get pets; crawdad boils & Southern culture; and his transition from finance to comedy, writing, and acting. This episode gets silly. Hey, remember that time Disney tried to trademark "Día De Los Muertos"? Stay tuned for more guests & laughs in SEASON TWO! .... Mikel Albagdadi is a comedian hailing from Louisiana, now making waves in Los Angeles. Known for his unique brand of humor, he skillfully weaves tales of his upbringing as an Arab American in the South into uproarious comedy. With credits including a role in the movie The Hunt and a recent appearance in the Netflix Original Carry On alongside Jason Bateman, Mikel Albagdadi is carving out a niche for himself in the entertainment industry. Not only a talented performer, he has also showcased his wit through his writing, contributing to publications such as The Red Shtick, Neutral Ground, and Buzzfeed. Follow Mikel Albagdadi on Instagram and YouTube!

In this episode, Zack Chapaloni shares the incredible story of his mother's journey from Morocco to the U.S. and how she escaped child slavery and abuse to make a better life for herself centered around family, service, and community. Zack also shares stories about his upbringing in the Bay Area, his creative exploits, and his journey from open micer to paid regular at the World Famous Comedy Store! This ep has it all. Follow Zack on Instagram and check out his show Joke Off! ... Zack Chapaloni's distinctly original stories, filled with colorful characters and unexpected punchlines, have resonated with audiences of all backgrounds and made him a comic to watch. Zack has appeared on the Showtime series Shameless, MTV's Greatest Party Story Ever, and the viral comedy-horror series Night of the Living Karens. As a standup comic, Zack has opened for some renowned names in the industry, including Tiffany Haddish, Mark Normand, Dave Attell and the late great Norm Macdonald. You can catch Zack every month hosting JOKE OFF LIVE with Torio van Grol. When he's not on the road, Zack performs standup weekly at The Setup in Culver City, and as a Paid Regular at The Comedy Store in Hollywood.

In this episode, Lynn and Christie chat with Sophia Zolan about her upbringing to Greek parents in Maryland, and they discuss Greek superstitions and curses; finding community; creativity, Sophia's dreams of playing the sax; romantic encounters on Greek islands; and Sophia's dad who might have been in the mafia ("Mainly because he and his friends wore peacoats all the time and slid mysterious envelopes to each other and suspiciously owned diners that no one went to. Like, how are you still in business?"). Follow Sophia on Instagram and YouTube! .....  Sophia Zolan is a filmmaker / stand up comedian / writer / actor / improviser / director / professional RuPaul fan. Is that too many slashes? Sophia thinks not. Wow, what a rebel.She's been featured on RuPaul's DragCon and Attack of the Show; written for the CBS Diversity showcase and Peacock TV; and performed at comedy clubs including the Hollywood Improv, Laugh Factory, and Zanies.

In this episode, Lynn and Christie chat with Syrian-American comic, writer, and actor Laura Laham about her upbringing in New York and her transition from engineering to comedy. They cover a range of topics, including creativity; authenticity; Laura's experience engineering toys for Mattel and Disney; their distinct encounters with Jeff Goldblum; Arab culture, post-9/11 identity, the fictitious Yaz Island, and more! This episode's got it all. Follow Laura on Instagram & TikTok! ..... Laura Laham is a Syrian-American comic who has opened for international headliners like Bassem Youssef. She has performed in Canada, Amman Jordan, Dubai UAE, and has been featured as Best of the Fest in the Burbank Comedy Festival. She has also appeared at the NY Comedy Festival and the New York Arab American Comedy Festival. #syrian #firstgeneration #comedypodcast #womeninstem

In this episode, Lynn and Christie chat with actor-comic-clown-writer-creator Leanne Velednitsky about her East Coast upbringing to Russian parents; Broadway, theater kids; the magic of New Jersey malls, and the power of living in your body! Follow Leanne on Instagram & TikTok! Also here's that LA Times article we referenced: Can anything stop Rick Caruso from turning L.A. into the Cheesecake Factory? ------- Leanne Velednitsky is a bi-coastal actor, comedian, writer, creator of things, dancer, clown, producer, and owner of a waterproof watch. Recently she premiered her short film Bike Thief on NoBudge, and is performing her solo show Exhaustion Power Hour at The Elysian. She co-hosts Big Sour Hour, LA's best hang, and Backyard Show at Brooklyn's premiere comedy venue Union Hall.

In this episode, Lynn and Christie chat with standup comic and actor Janesh Rahlan about moving from India to the Midwest; his career move from tech to comedy; survival vs. self-actualization; how we gauge our worthiness; battling perfectionism, control, and self-criticism; his big Super Bowl commercial; Roast Battle; and Janesh's Italian alter ego, Gino. Follow Janesh on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube!

In this episode, Lynn and Christie chat with Sarah Fatemi about her Iranian upbringing in Ohio; her journey with self confidence, comedy, and Roast Battles; the Evil Eye; her debut on Iranian Late Night; and how she taught her mom to love D jokes! ......... Sarah Fatemi is an LA-based Iranian-American comedian. She is a Roast Battle champion and performs at The Comedy Store, The Hollywood Improv, and all around the country! Find and follow Sarah on Instagram and TikTok!

In this episode, Lynn and Christie chat with Nigerian-American doctor, comic, writer, and content creator AK Agunbiade. They discuss his upbringing in a Nigerian family; the sheer embarrassment of his Ivy-League excellence; his journey as a comic; and how he finds balance working in medicine and entertainment. Follow AK on Instagram & TikTok! .... AK Agunbiade is a Nigerian-American comedian and writer. His foray into stand up comedy started in DC during a year he took off from medical school where he became addicted to the craft and never looked back. Critics have said that “He manages to be self-effacing, provide intelligent, humorous criticism of today's political climate, and relate to a diverse audience simultaneously” with his stand up. You can find him performing regularly in LA. He has performed all over the world including London, Geneva, Zurich, Paris, and Toronto to name a few. When not performing, he is either sleeping, eating, or hustling at his side gig as an emergency medicine doctor.

In this episode, Christie and Lynn chat with Mexican-Lebanese comedian and writer, Kari Assad. They talk about her parents' rom-com worthy first-date; brujas and magical realism; what makes a good mocktail; God and spirituality; and why Meryl Streep can sit down (What? No, that can't be right). ... ⁠Kari Assad ⁠is a Mexican-Lebanese comedian and writer based in Los Angeles. Her silly and relatable content has been featured on the popular comedy platform WhoHaha, and she's also been a featured performer at premium festivals like Limestone and 10,000 Laughs. Kari co-produces Mermaid Comedy Hour at the Hollywood Improv; and she hosts the hilarious podcast '⁠Kari Assad: Ghost Detective,'⁠ where she breaks down real-life ghosting stories with guests to determine what really happened. When she's not on stage, you can find her borderline making out with your dog. Follow Kari⁠, her ⁠podcast⁠, and ⁠Mermaid Comedy Hour⁠!

In this episode Lynn and Christie chat with Fizaa Dosani about her upbringing in Florida by two Indian doctors; mental health and comedy; her creative journey; and why white napkins make no sense. Follow Fizaa on Instagram, TikTok, & YouTube! ​..... Fizaa Dosani is a comic, writer, and actor based in Los Angeles. She has toured widely and performs regularly on well-known stages and festivals across the country, including the Netflix is a Joke Festival, New York Comedy Festival, and SF Sketchfest. On screen, Fizaa has had roles in acclaimed TV shows such as Netflix's Lincoln Lawyer and Dear White People, FX's Snowfall, and ABC's How To Get Away With Murder. Most recently, Fizaa played "Stacy Padman" on ABC's The Company You Keep, "Seema" on FOX's Pivoting, and "Jules" on CBS's S.W.A.T. She also plays "Audrey" in the upcoming HBO pilot More. In 2017, Fizaa created Facial Recognition Comedy (FRC) as a response to tokenism and underrepresentation in arts and media. FRC has grown into a nationally touring stand-up comedy show with bicoastal residencies in LA and NYC, as well as a podcast of the same name, which she co-hosts. Fizaa was named as an up-and-coming comedian and actor by The New York Times in an article listing Facial Recognition Comedy as one of the top 5 shows they were most excited to see at New York Comedy Festival. In 2023, Fizaa performed with FRC at the San Francisco Sketchfest for her fourth year in a row. The show has also been mentioned in Deadline, Daily Beast, Vulture, Screen Rant, Backstage, and more.  Fizaa was selected as a winner of Clubhouse's inaugural Creator First program in 2021. In addition to producing and hosting her pilot, the app ordered 12 episodes for the first season of FRC in the Facial Recognition Comedy Club. The show became one of the first social audio series of its kind on any social media platform. 

In this episode, Lynn and Christie chat with Indian-American comic and actor BK Sharad about his roots in Texas and Colorado; BK's boy band aspirations; why Indian racism hits different; drugs & mental health; and why America needs to bring back street dogs. Content Warning: Suicide.  Follow BK on Instagram and TikTok. Watch BK's Don't Tell Comedy taping. Follow Smeagol The Half Beagle. ... BK Sharad is an up-and-coming comedian from the mean streets of Boulder, Colorado. You of course know him from his work as Jay Chandrasekhar's body double in an as-of-yet unaired TV Pilot, but he is also making a name for himself in standup. He has been selected for over a dozen festivals across the country including the High Plains Comedy Festival, Cloudtop Comedy Festival, and the 10,000 Laughs Comedy Festival. His positive outlook shines through his jokes about the world and his experiences in it as a former emo, hockey playing, first generation, Indian millennial.

In this episode, Lynn and Christie chat with Jenny Yang about her upbringing as a Taiwanese-born, Los Angeles-raised overachiever. They discuss her obsession with the wellness industrial complex; coping with burnout and depression; ambition; her transition from politics to a creative career; and how she located her Self and values along the way. Named one of Variety's "Top Ten Comics to Watch" and New York Magazine/ Vulture's "Comedians You Should Know," comedian Jenny Yang tours her unique blend of personal storytelling and social commentary through her standup comedy and hit monthly stage show SELF HELP ME, a competitive self-care comedy show. She has been featured at Just For Laughs Montreal, headlined at San Francisco Sketchfest, and has shared the stage with such legendary comedians as Maria Bamford and Margaret Cho. As an actor, Jenny stars opposite Michelle Yeoh as XING in the Netflix action comedy-drama series, The Brothers Sun. She also voices Carissa, Beef's love interest, on Fox's The Great North. Her perspective as a food-obsessed, former labor organizer, and Asian American community activist working in comedy and entertainment is a sought-after voice in media projects covering the most pressing political and cultural issues of the day. Taiwan-born and Southern California-raised, Jenny was honored by President Obama as a “White House Champion of Change” for her leadership in “Asian American and Pacific Islander Art and Storytelling." Jenny has lived in Taiwan, Japan and Chile, speaks Mandarin Chinese and Spanish, and can curse you out in Korean and Japanese. Subscribe to her Substack newsletter “everything's fine with Jenny Yang” for stories and essays to find joy in an unjust world. Find her online at jennyyang.tv and on all social media at @jennyyangtv.

Two Middle Eastern comedy queens dig up the funny from the first generation experience. In this episode Lynn and Christie chat with Los Angeles-based filmmaker Oscar Armando about his upbringing in CA by a strong, inspirational single mom; his roots in El Salvador; his creative journey as a filmmaker; the power of intuition and self-trust; warlocks, woo, and astrology ... and more! Follow Oscar @IamOscarArmando!

William Cheng is a Taiwanese-American comic and artist. In this episode, Lynn and Christie chat with William about his quasi-Buddhist upbringing in Texas filled with witchy superstitions; diversity brochures; mental health; balancing comedy and corporate life; facing racism and homophobia; and laughing at our short, bizarre life on this planet. Find William on TikTok , Instagram, X and YouTube!

In this episode, Lynn and Christie chat with Haitian-American writer and comic Ronald Metellus. They discuss his roots in NY and Philly, his charismatic (un)relatability, diversity on the golf course, remaining ageless in Los Angeles, post-pandemic fashion sensibilities, and the creative balance of writing versus performance. .... Ronald Metellus is a writer best known for his work on Ziwe and The Onion, and he has also appeared on the hit Netflix show I Think You Should Leave. Follow him on Instagram, Twitter/X, and YouTube.

In this episode, Lynn and Christie chat with Salma Hindy about her religious upbringing in Canada as the daughter of an Imam; her transition from biomedical engineering to comedy; her decision to take off the hijab; and her personal revolution of choosing to celebrate her body, embrace her sexuality, and love herself at all costs. .... Salma Hindy is an Egyptian-Canadian stand-up comedian. She is most noted for her appearance in the second season premiere of Roast Battle Canada, for which she and the other participants received an ensemble Canadian Screen Award nomination for best performance in a variety or sketch comedy program or series at the 11th Canadian Screen Awards in 2023. Her debut comedy album, Born on 9/11, was released in 2022, and you can catch her on the upcoming animated Amazon series #1 Happy Family USA. Follow her on Instagram & TikTok, and find her on YouTube!

Lynn Maleh and Christie Bahna are two Middle Eastern comedy queens digging up the funny from the first-generation experience. In this episode, Christie and Lynn catch up with Ahmed Al-Kadri and discuss his new special, social anxiety, religiosity and Islam, "The Industry" and how to deal with trolls in the comments! Ahmed's new comedy special, "A Special Not Special" is out NOW! Go watch it, and follow Ahmed on Instagram and TikTok!

Christie Bahna and Lynn Maleh are two Middle Eastern comedy queens digging up the funny from the first-generation experience. In this episode, Lynn and Christie chat with Filipina-Canadian actress and comic ⁠Christine Medrano ⁠about her upbringing in a gambling-enthusiast household; standup comedy; superstitions and woo; rock-climbing; phone addictions, AI bots in comedy and TV; and more! Follow Christine on ⁠Instagram⁠ and check out her poker podcast ⁠Shortstacks⁠! ... Christine Medrano is a stand-up comic, actress, writer, and filmmaker from Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada. Her short film, “I Think She Likes You”, which she stars and co-wrote was programmed at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival, Outfest, Frameline, and numerous other festivals around the world. She has done stand-up on Epix and voiced a character on Bob's Burgers. She was a crew member of the popular Youtube Channel, Good Mythical Morning, she was also a featured cast member and writer for College Humor and DROPOUT.  Christine has also been a finalist for Sirius XM's Canada's Next Top Comic, a featured at the Laughing Skull Comedy Festival, and an opening act for Maria Bamford. She has appeared in numerous videos for Amazon Prime, Super Deluxe, College Humor, Cracked, Buzzfeed, Refinery29, Funny or Die, Comedy Central, All Def Digital, and hosted multiple shows for Mythical Entertainment.

Lynn Maleh and Christie Bahna are two Middle Eastern comedy queens digging up the funny from the first-generation experience. In this episode, Lynn and Christie chat with Ahmed Bharoocha about his bicoastal upbringing as a half Irish-Catholic, half Pakistani-Indian-Burmese Muslim lad; his journey from almost-engineer to actor-comedian; dad jokes; ghosts; pranks; and the meaning of life! .... Conan and Comedy Central veteran Ahmed Bharoocha is half Irish Catholic, half Pakistani-Indian-Burmese-Muslim, and wholly a master of punctuating striking social commentary with high-energy theatrics. In 2010, Bharoocha won the Magner's International Comedy Festival and soon moved to Los Angeles (specifically his sister's dining-room floor). There he began producing weekly web shorts with Ryan O'Flanagan and Jack Robichaud for their Dead Kevin Sketch channel; the viral sketch trio has since been featured on Tosh.0, Funny or Die and named one of L.A. Weekly's 2013 Comedy Acts to Watch. As a solo stand-up, Bharoocha's festival performances include Just for Laughs Montreal, the Moontower Comedy Festival, Riot L.A., the Great American Comedy Festival and Scotland's Glasgow International Comedy Festival. He also appeared on America's Got Talent, Adam DeVine's House Party, Viceland's Flophouse, and Adult Swim's Dream Corp, LLC. Catch Ahmed in his newest film, The Prank, and follow him on ⁠YouTube⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠, and ⁠Instagram⁠!

Lynn Maleh and Christie Bahna are two Middle-Eastern comedy queens digging up the funny from the first-generation experience. In this episode, they chat with Bita Joudaki about her upbringing in Italy and Canada; her background as a filmmaker and comedic improviser; the perks of having a bad memory; self-actualization; the importance of a good handshake; and Bita's big plans for haunting loved ones in the afterlife! ... Bita Joudaki is a Toronto-based Iranian-Canadian writer and comedian. Bita has performed comedy across North America at festivals like Vancouver International Improv Festival, Combustion Festival, Motor City Comedy Festival, and SF Sketchfest. Most recently, Bita has worked as a story editor and writer on CTV's Children Ruin Everything and is in development at CBC with her original series, Leila and the Zit. She was also a participant of the Netflix Canada Creator Program. Follow her on Twitter & Instagram!

Lynn Maleh and Christie Bahna are two Middle Eastern comedy queens digging up the funny from the first-generation experience. In this episode, Christie and Lynn chat with Nigerian-American comic/ writer/ troublemaker Kazeem Rahman about his upbringing in TX, his comedy philosophy, and his double life (IT guy by day, artist by night). ... Kazeem Rahman is a comedian known for his sharp wit and observational style. Kazeem's jokes will leave audiences laughing and thinking, thanks to his deadpan delivery and ability to find humor in even the darkest situations. You can hear his jokes throughout Sirius XM on Pure Comedy and Kevin Hart's LOL Radio. In addition to his stand-up comedy career, Kazeem hosts a popular podcast called "Tough Choice with Kazeem Rahman" in which he poses thought-provoking and sometimes crazy "would you rather" questions to his guests. Follow him @kazeemcomedy and check out his podcast!

Lynn Maleh and Christie Bahna are two Middle Eastern comedy queens digging up the funny from the first-generation experience. In this episode, they chat with Ukrainian writer and standup comic Galina Rivina about her upbringing in Odesa and Ohio; Russian / Ukrainian superstitions; her standup career in LA; the power of positive thinking; and the eternal wisdom of the Fast and Furious franchise. ... Galina Rivina is a stand up comedian and writer based in Los Angeles, CA. Originally born and raised in Ukraine, she made it to the U.S. just in time to not have an irksome soviet accent. However, childhood as an immigrant has an undeniable influence on her comedy (as does being a woman, navigating life as a millennial, and day-to-day havoc of being a human being). It's suspected that the lingering Chernobyl exposure gave her one-liner and short form story-telling a bit of the razzle dazzle. She routinely performs at local clubs. She recently started featuring on the road for Preacher Lawson and has performed at clubs in San Diego, Phoenix, Portland, Winnipeg, NYC, and abroad. In 2022, she headlined the Cleveland Comedy Festival. She also wrote for the 2019 Comedy Central Roast of Alec Baldwin. Find Galina on YouTube, Instagram, and Tiktok!

In this episode, Christie and Lynn talk to comic Gena B. Jones, about her diverse upbringing in Washington, D.C.; her Mexican and Syrian roots; the unifying power of shopping malls; the best Trader Joe's snacks; and more! .... Gena is a Syrian-Mexican-American comedian, writer and show producer based in Los Angeles. She's currently a regular at the Hollywood Improv, the Westside Comedy Theater, The Crow, and a plethora of indie venues around LA. At the Improv, she co-produces Hilarious Habibis, a quarterly standup showcase that exclusively features Middle Eastern talent. The show was recently featured in the New York Comedy Festival, SF Sketchfest, the LA Times, and AlAraby TV. Follow her on Instagram and TikTok!

In this episode, Lynn and Christie chat with Palestinian-American comic Joe Abousakher about his upbringing on a sheep farm in rural Tennessee; performing comedy in Palestine; his evolution as a comic in LA's standup scene; and his award-winning pie-making skills. ... Joe Abousakher is a Los Angeles-based stand up comedian and host of the Here With Joe Podcast. Catch him on stages around the country taking about his Palestinian / Southern American upbringing and the joys (and headaches) of spending his adult life as a young step-dad. Follow Joe on Instagram (@HereWithJoe) and check out his YouTube channel.

In this episode, we chat with Sam Oh about his upbringing in Los Angeles by Korean Christian immigrants; the gay allegory that is Hannah Montana; skincare; comedy; and how it's ok for underrepresented communities to be ugly and unlikable! .... Sam Oh is a writer and comedian from Los Angeles (well technically The Valley which like, totally counts!) An alum of the WarnerMedia Access Writers Program and NBC's Late Night Writers Workshop, he most recently worked on the reboot of Frasier for Paramount+. As a queer child of Korean Christian immigrants, Oh had no choice but to develop a sense of humor. He got his start as a teenager doing open-mics all over LA and taking sketch and improv at UCB, later writing on Maude Night. His scripts have placed in numerous industry competitions, including the Top 50 of the Academy Nicholl Fellowship. He's performed at SF Sketchfest, Union Hall NY, The Elysian Theater and currently hosts the musical comedy revue, “Adler & Oh.” Oh performs comedic music as his hyper-sexual pop star alter ego, GAY VIRGIN. For updates on his upcoming debut EP, follow @gayvirginofficial and @gayvirgin666!

Mitra Karimi-Taleghani, MSW, ASW, CYT, is a psychotherapist living in Los Angeles. She received her B.A. in Gender Studies with a Minor in Education from UCLA and her MSW from Radford University. She has over a decade of experience working with diverse populations in the mental health world, including hospitals, non-profits, and private practices in urban, suburban, and rural settings. Her therapeutic approach is anti-racist, anti-oppressive, culturally-affirming, queer-affirming, kink-affirming, and client-centered. Find her @blackmarkettherapy and blackmarkettherapy.com.

Christie Bahna and Lynn Maleh are two Middle Eastern comedy queens digging up the funny from the first-generation experience. In this episode, the queens discuss standup comedian Arijana Ramic's upbringing in Seattle as the daughter of Muslim, Bosnian refugees; her mindset and goal-setting habits with the long game of comedy; and an elaborate prank involving an actual Bachelorette contestant. ... Arijana Ramic is a comedian and writer originally from Seattle, WA. You can now find her taking the LA scene by storm and even working at the Comedy Store as a “door guy.” Arijana is able to sweetly navigate dark topics like growing up with Bosnian immigrant parents, identifying as Type A, and sadness, all with a smile on her face. Arijana has opened for the likes of Chris Redd, Jenny Zigrino, and Jesus Trejo. She has performed in competitions and festivals including The Seattle International Comedy Competition (2019), Madison Comedy Week (2021), and was among Best of the Fest at the Burbank Comedy Festival (2022). You may have read her satirical musings on sites like Flexx Mag, Slackjaw, or THE FOREIGNER, of which she is the Founder & Editor. She also directs, produces, and performs in digital sketch groups like “Aisha & Arijana” and “Diverse Group of Friends.” Or, you might recognize her voice from her podcast, Burning the Light. Follow her on Instagram and read her work!

Christie Bahna and Lynn Maleh are Middle Eastern comedy queens digging up the funny from the first-generation experience. Milan Patel is an Indian-American standup comedian based in LA. In this episode, the gang explores Milan's West Coast roots and his family's motel business; irrational childhood fears and delusions; first-generation identity; and standup comedy in Seattle, Portland, and Los Angeles. ... Milan Patel has been featured on Bumbershoot and the Bridgetown Comedy Festival, and he produces a bunch of great stand up showcases in LA including Dead Serious , Stacks Comedy, and Dishoom Comedy, a show where comedians roast scenes from their favorite Indian Action movies in front of a live audience - think Mystery Science Theater, but with a Bollywood vibe! Find him on Instagram and Twitter; watch his hilarious sets on YouTube; and checkout his podcast, Perfect Politics!

Marlena Rodriguez is a first-generation Cuban, Puerto Rican TV writer and comedian who's been writing and performing comedy since birth. She's toured with The Second City, performed stand up around the world, and is a Sundance Episodic Lab alum. Marlena's written on hit TV shows like Lord Miller's Clone High, Tina Fey's Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, HBO's Silicon Valley, and more! Marlena has performed stand up around the world, was named a Comic To Watch by Comedy Central, and made her TV debut with a stand up special on HBO titled, About Last Night. Soon after, she became was one of the first Latinas to do a set on Late Night television with her set on NBC's A Little Late with Lily Singh. Watch Marlena's latest special, Unprotected Sets, on MGM+. Find her @Marlenagotalife (Insta); @MarlenaRodrigz (Twitter); and MarlenaRodriguez.com!

Christie Bahna and Lynn Maleh are two Middle Eastern comedy queens on an expedition to dig up the funny from the first-generation experience. This week's guest, Nthenya Ndunda, is a dynamic force in comedy with a cynical mind and an extroverted persona. She masterfully blends observational humor with thoughtful reflections, leaving audiences in a delightful quandary: is this deeply profound, or is this a playful commentary on our collective shallowness? Born in Nairobi, Kenya, her early life unfolded against the backdrop of Vancouver's diverse cityscape and later in the complicated but charming streets of Charleston, SC. As an immigrant, her humor draws from the reality of navigating life in different places, capturing the essence of being both an insider and an outsider. Notables: two-time JFL Standup and Pitch winner (2019 & 2022), NBC's Writers on the Verge nominee (2021). You may have seen her on ‘Them' (Amazon), ‘Shameless' (Showtime), ‘Loosely, Exactly Nicole' (MTV/Facebook) or in a Lifetime movie if you're about that life. Find her on Instagram @im_nthenya.

Fumi Abe is a Japanese-American stand-up comedian/writer based in Los Angeles who was recently named Vulture's Comedians You Should and Will Know in 2023 and was part of the 2023 Just For Laughs New Faces. He has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and has written for The Late Late Show with James Corden, NPR's “Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!”, the ESPYs, and “Wavelength”, a Comedy Central pilot. Fumi currently produces and hosts Cash Cuties, a super personal finance podcast where Fumi & Steffie Baik analyze their friends' credit card statements and judge their spending habits - with love. Find him @thefumiabe and fumiabe.com!

Born in Nigeria, raised in Canada, with stints in Korea and France, Aisha Alfa is now living and working in Los Angeles as a comedian, actor, writer and host. Her comedy album All The Parts, streaming now on All Things Comedy, was listed as Ebony Magazine's “5 Black Female Comedy Albums to Get Your Chuckle On.” Aisha has a joke on GQ's “100 Best Jokes In The World,” and she has performed live stand up comedy around the world, including Just For Laughs (Montreal, Canada), Cape Town Comedy (South Africa), Breakout Festival (Chicago), Montreux Comedy Festival (Switzerland) and clubs throughout North America. Aisha plays Carolyn on the dark comedy thriller Based On A True Story on Peacock, and you may also recognize her as Ms. Grell on the Degrassi franchise (Netflix), Jordan in Good Trouble (HULU) and Claire in Sorry For Your Loss (Facebook Watch). Aisha has a TEDx talk on the importance of failure, an interview series called Plus One about pregnancy, fertility and motherhood, and is the co-host of the positive podcast The Shout Out Show. In addition to acting and stand up, Alfa has added a new role to her resume — Mama of two amazing kiddos! Find her @aishaalfa on social media, and check out her podcast A Work In Progress.

Opeyemi ('Opey') Olagbaju is a Nigerian American stand-up comedian/writer named as one of Vulture's Comedians You Should Know 2023. He created BAMMAS on Hulu and wrote for a number of shows, including CLOSE ENOUGH on Max; BETTY on HBO; Kenya Barris' UNRELATED on Freeform; and I LOVE YOU AMERICA WITH SARAH SILVERMAN. As a standup, the D.C.-area native performs across the city and has successfully showcased in several festivals, such as Just For Laughs, District of Comedy (DC), Bridgetown Comedy Festival, SF Sketchfest, and the World Series of Comedy. Follow him @opeyjokey!

Glorelys "Glory" Mora is a proud Bilingual Dominican-American standup comedian, born and raised in Uptown, NY, who has appeared on HBO, VICE TV, FUSE TV, TV ONE, CLEO TV (w/ Chef JJ), E! FASHION POLICE (w/ the late Joan Rivers), and more. She has performed in and produced comedy shows in Hawaii, San Francisco, Miami, Los Angeles, the Dominican Republic, and more. When she's not on stage she's guest-starring in sketches for PERO LIKE, LATINO REBELS, EOP COMEDY, BOUNCE TV, and BEING LATINO. Find her @glorelysmora and catch her new podcast "Girl Let Me Tell You" on the Mitú network!

Reem Edan is an Iraqi-American content creator, award-winning writer and internationally touring stand-up comedian known for her unique brand of “Muslim-ennial” humor. Since leaving a career in film marketing to focus on comedy, Reem has participated in several prestigious programs including the:NBC Late Night Writing Workshop, MGM Writing Program, Disney Television Discovers Talent Showcase, and Warner Bros / Rooster Teeth Digital Creators Workshop. Find her @ReemEdan on social media platforms and at reemedan.com.

Pallavi Gunalan is a stand-up comedian, writer, actor, improviser, biomedical engineer, and fan of the oxford comma. Follow her @pallavigunalan and find her at pallavigunalan.com.

Ahmed Al-Kadri is a Yemeni-American comedian based in LA. He connects with audiences through funny, heartfelt stories and jokes about those little things in life you just have to laugh at. Follow him @ahmedlovesbread across social media platforms, and check out his website ahmedlovesbread.com.

Christie Bahna is a comic, writer, & voice actor (SAG/AFTRA). She has performed at the Hollywood Improv, Comedy Store, The Stand NY, New York Comedy Club, and the Laugh Factory, and she can be seen performing regularly in L.A. As a first-generation Egyptian American and former attorney, Christie's work explores the interplay between culture, identity, and the legal implications of slipping on banana peels. Follow her @autobahna and find her at christiebahna.com.

Called "up-and-coming" by the LA Times, Lynn Maleh is a Syrian-American TV writer and standup comedian whose last name means salty, which she is. She's written for Act Your Age on Bounce TV, The Onion, Reductress, and McSweeney's and has performed on The New York Comedy Festival, Don't Tell Comedy, Hot Tub with Kurt and Kristen, and a few times in Brad Pitt's old backyard. She co-created and co-produces Hilarious Habibis, the first ever Middle Eastern-only standup showcase at The Hollywood Improv. Follow her @heylynnmolly and find her at lynnmaleh.com.

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