Factually! with Adam Conover Stand Up Comedy with Tourette's with Benny Feldman
Oct 15, 2025
Benny Feldman, a stand-up comedian known for his surreal one-liners, openly shares his journey navigating comedy with Tourette Syndrome. He discusses how his tics influence his comedic rhythm and performance. Benny also explores the importance of representation and normalizing Tourette's in entertainment. The conversation dives into how his experiences with psychedelics connect to his work and daily life. Plus, they analyze the structure of jokes and the ethics of comedy, making this an insightful look at humor through a unique lens.
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Opening Bit Shows Tourette's Onstage
- Benny opened by joking about Tourette's and immediately demonstrated tics while riffing on pizza and lullabies.
- He framed Tourette's as part of his act and used it to shape surreal one-liners on stage.
Tourette's Is Neutral, Not Tragic
- Benny explains he has Tourette's and treats it neutrally rather than as a defining drama in his life.
- He uses comedy partly to normalize Tourette's and reduce stereotypes for audiences and kids.
Premonitory Urge Explains Control
- Benny describes the premonitory urge that precedes tics and how they can be held or redirected temporarily.
- He compares holding a tic to holding a blink and says long redirection makes new habits form.
