S18, Ep2 Sara Pascoe on fertility, fear and what success really means
Sep 13, 2023
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Sara Pascoe, a critically acclaimed comedian, talks about failing at acting, her struggle with infertility and miscarriage, and the challenges comedians face in their careers. She also reflects on reframing success, the impact of parents' relationship on views of parenthood, and her journey from theatre to standup comedy.
Sara Pascoe discusses her experiences performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the pressure to succeed in a competitive environment.
Pascoe opens up about her journey with infertility, feeling a sense of failure and worthlessness, and the emotional toll it took on her relationships and self-esteem.
The podcast episode delves into the speaker's journey of discovering and pursuing a career in stand-up comedy, embracing the creative and spontaneous nature of the craft, and valuing enjoyment over excessive pressure.
Deep dives
The Challenges of Edinburgh Fringe
Sarah Pascoe discusses her experiences performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, dealing with harsh reviews, and the pressure to succeed in a competitive environment.
Struggles with Infertility
Pascoe opens up about her journey with infertility, feeling a sense of failure and worthlessness, and the emotional toll it took on her relationships and self-esteem.
The Trade-off and Uncertainty of Parenthood
Pascoe reflects on how she saw having children as a trade-off for her professional success and how the lack of a clear answer regarding pregnancy left her in a state of constant uncertainty and doubt.
Discovering a Passion for Stand-up Comedy
The podcast episode delves into the speaker's journey of discovering and pursuing a career in stand-up comedy. Despite initially aiming to be an actor, the speaker stumbled upon stand-up comedy through a sketch show in Little Venice. The experience led them to fall in love with stand-up and embrace the creative and spontaneous nature of the craft. The speaker highlights the importance of not putting excessive pressure on oneself and valuing the enjoyment and creativity that comes with pursuing a hobby.
Navigating Fertility Issues and Pregnancy Anxiety
Another significant topic discussed in the podcast is the speaker's experience with fertility issues and the emotional toll it took. The speaker opens up about their miscarriages and the anxiety that came with their second pregnancy. They express the fear and insecurity that accompanied the journey and how it affected their perception of pregnancy. The speaker also touches upon the societal pressure surrounding pregnancy and how it can contribute to feelings of failure or inadequacy. Despite ultimately having a child, the speaker emphasizes that the emotional impact of fertility struggles doesn't simply disappear with the arrival of a baby.
Sara Pascoe is a critically acclaimed comedian, writer and actor. Her latest stand-up tour is called - aptly enough for this podcast - Success and her debut novel, Weirdo, is published tomorrow. It's a dark, funny, stream-of-consciousness narrative ride through the internal machinations of Sophie, an anxious, sometimes obsessive, often unhappy woman trying to feel less lost. I gobbled it up.
Sara joins me to talk about failing at acting, why every year she promises herself she'll never do the Edinburgh Fringe again (and every year breaks that promise) and, in a heartbreaking third failure, she talks candidly about failing to get pregnant for over a decade, suffering a miscarriage, doing IVF and eventually having a baby but remaining in a state of high anxiety throughout her pregnancy. It's a beautiful conversation, and I am so grateful to Sara for talking about something that is very difficult to put into words. I know her courageous vulnerability will help so many people.
