Tech Brew Ride Home (BNS) Baratunde Thurston
10 snips
Oct 24, 2025 
In this engaging conversation, Baratunde Thurston—comedian, writer, and digital media entrepreneur known for his roles at The Onion and The Daily Show—explores his journey from tech-savvy childhood to influential comedy. He discusses the powerful blend of technology and humor, his advocacy for AI that enhances human connections, and the importance of community in digital spaces. Baratunde also shares insights on his time at The Onion, the New York tech scene, and his passion for digital activism, all while sprinkling in his unique comedic perspective.
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Born Into Tech
- Baratunde Thurston grew up around technology because his mother was a COBOL programmer for the Treasury Department.
- He remembers early PCs at home and visiting her workplace which launched his curiosity about computing.
Comedy Education On The Road And Web
- Baratunde listened to comedy cassettes on road trips and discovered British sitcoms on PBS which shaped his comedic voice.
- Finding comedy online and starting a jokers@sidwell.edu listserv in high school helped him develop satire and curation skills.
From Telecom By Day To The Onion By Night
- After college Baratunde worked in telecom strategy during the day and did stand-up at night before moving to New York in 2007.
- He joined The Onion as politics and web editor to help bring the publication into the internet era.
