HB Ep. 39: Comedy and Tragedy (Divorce)
What does it mean to ‘always punch up?’
This week, Youngmi Mayer touches on two topics suggested by listeners: comedy power dynamics and divorce. After a viral TikTok about the unspoken rule of comedy, “Always Punch Up,” Youngmi discusses the nuances of power dynamics in comedy in relation to who she feels comfortable joking about. She also discusses how comedy helped her keep a level head in day-to-day life. In the second half of the episode, she brings up a common occurrence for people on the brink of divorce or the end of a relationship: limerence.
Words by Youngmi Mayer
Youngmi Mayer is a standup comedian and single mom based in New York City. She explores topics of Asian identity, biracial identity, feminism and growing up poor in her work.