Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out 168. Zarna Garg Returns: One Follower at a Time, a Million Times
10 snips
Apr 28, 2025 Zarna Garg, a stand-up comedian and author of 'This American Woman', shares her comedic journey from India to America, revealing the unique challenges of cultural sensitivity and free speech in comedy. She discusses how performing to small audiences inspires her just as much as larger crowds. Garg opens up about raising her kids in America while navigating expectations and dreams, and sheds light on the impact of online criticism on her work. Plus, she reveals why her family hasn’t read her memoir and touches on women's empowerment initiatives.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Prepare for Every Gig Equally
- Treat every gig with equal preparation regardless of audience size.
- Personalize jokes to the city or town to show you care.
Performing for Small Audiences
- Zarna performs with full focus even for one or two audience members.
- She treats small audiences as a creative challenge and engages them personally.
Free Speech Challenges in India
- India is unpredictable for free speech and comedy due to cultural and political constraints.
- Zarna faces anxiety over performing there but experienced joy when she did.
