Comedian Simon Huebner shares how he transformed his Asperger's diagnosis into comedy gold through developing quick comebacks, studying other comedians, and taking action before feeling ready. He reveals the mindset practices and habits that helped him overcome social anxiety and build authentic confidence on and off stage.
• Started comedy through YouTube algorithms that led him down a rabbit hole of stand-up performances
• Discovered using humor as a defense mechanism reduced bullying in school
• Focuses on authenticity in his comedy while playing with story details for maximum impact
• Practices one bit at a time to refine his craft and builds confidence through consistent performance
• Hosts a regular comedy show at Beer Growler in Brookhaven on second and fourth Mondays
• Manages negative self-talk by breaking challenges into small, manageable steps
• Uses the personal mantra that everyone is "in God's image" to overcome social anxiety
• Believes "no one remembers your screw-ups" which helps him take more risks on stage
• Found confidence through action rather than waiting to feel completely ready
• Recommends reading widely across different subjects to expand comedic material
Follow Simon on Instagram: @simonsaysfunny
https://www.instagram.com/simonsaysfunny/
Follow Simon on Facebook: Simon Huebner
https://www.facebook.com/smhuebner
Follow Simon on Threads: Simonsaysfunny
https://www.threads.com/@simonsaysfunny
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Niki Sterner (00:01):
Welcome to the Confidence Shortcut, the podcast
for ambitious creatives andentrepreneurs who are ready to
stop overthinking, take boldaction and finally step into the
life they've been dreamingabout.
I'm your host, nikki Sterner,mom, actor, comedian and
producer.
After years of playing smalland waiting to feel ready, I
went on a courage quest andfound a shortcut to confidence.
(00:21):
Each week I'll bring you realstories, simple steps and
conversations with experts inmindset courage and confidence,
plus heart-to-hearts with fellowcreatives who are turning their
dreams into reality.
It's time to get unstuck andstart showing up.
Let's dive in.
Welcome everyone to theConfidence Shortcut.
I'm so excited to have SimonHuebner on today with us.
(00:43):
He is a super talented comedian, one of the first people that I
met when I started in stand-upcomedy in Atlanta, and I have
just adored him and I lovewatching him out on stage.
He's so likable on stage.
You're going to love him today.
So Simon started comedy andwriting jokes because he was
delusional enough to think he'dbe the first person who publicly
found the humor in Asperger'sand needed something to do
(01:06):
during evenings outside of home.
It quickly became apparent that, with a wide range of life
experiences and opinions, thathis comedy had more to say, than
just his diagnosis.
These circumstances includebeing a Jew who often fit out,
an under-motivated bookwormlanguishing in his mother's
basement while finishing ageology degree, a former oil
(01:28):
field worker and a special edteacher of a home-based study
program, some of which haveoverlapped with each other.
I mean, that is so much rightthere, simon.
I'm like, oh my gosh, tell memore, please.
Please, tell me what you aredoing right now that you're
loving, and I want to hear allabout this.
Simon Huebner (01:44):
Well, thank you again.
This positivity, this is all,nikki.
So yeah, I think, when it comesto the things that I would be
doing in life right now, it'sabout having goals that are more
manageable.
So say, you were back in schooland you're expected to be good
at every single subject.
That doesn't really happen.
I think we all know real life'snot always like that.
(02:06):
So, for example, teaching wasending, I was not doing comedy,
I was planning for an ITcertification exam.
Those were things where I'mlooking at a list, I've got note
cards, I've got.
Really, it's about justdifferent strategies, about how
to take a test, get thecertification, get hired on at a
government organization I willnot be saying which one I'm a
(02:28):
contractor for but I thinkhaving that test and trying to
get a little bit better atsomething, these are all more
manageable goals, things thatare easy to envision.
Niki Sterner (02:37):
So, simon, take me back to when you were finishing
a geology degree and wrappingup college and going into the
work field.
Did you have any sort ofcreative aspirations at that
time, or were you just I need toget a job, I need to work.
What were you doing?
Simon Huebner (02:53):
Okay, I didn't have the best experience in
school, so I really just want tosay I met the right therapist
when I was nine and that went along way.
Didn't see him for a while,then went back.
He's the one who gave me theidea for geology.
I liked it.
I stuck with it as I wasfinishing up.
In terms of creativity, Ialways liked how humor worked,
(03:17):
so to speak.
I always liked what madesomething funny and why certain
people could get away withsaying certain things, whereas
someone else, if they're soserious, is not going to get
away with saying certain things,whereas someone else, if
they're so serious, is not goingto get away with it.
And I just remember one time itwas like 2010, I go down this
YouTube rabbit hole and I lookup George Carlin's Seven Words
because I wanted to watch it.
The whole thing.
(03:37):
Is this a clean podcast?
I don't plan on saying thiseither way, but-.
It is a clean podcast but so Ilooked george carlin's seven
words what?
Niki Sterner (03:45):
I don't know that.
What is that exactly?
Simon Huebner (03:47):
it's a clean podcast and I'll tell you
afterwards.
It's okay.
You cannot say on televisionokay, some of them you can now,
but I'm not gonna again, this isa clean podcast, I'll go over
it.
You can youtube seven dirtywords you cannot say on tv oh
but the way I didn't reallyrealize how algorithms were
showing you the next thing, andthen the next thing, and then
(04:09):
the next thing, and then thenext thing, and so I ended up
just diving into comedy and Icannot make up what happened
next, because, like I could saysomething very funny in a room
that could destroy the room, butI could not do it consistently.
But the more I'm listening toother comedians, even if it is
not my style or not, mysensibilities, like my brain,
(04:36):
started firing faster and Ifound I would much rather be
watching this than I would be atypical yak fest or the same old
things on the radio.
There used to be a radiostation in Atlanta.
It's like they fill their airswith comedy but they couldn't
fill up anything else and itjust was not profitable.
Niki Sterner (04:48):
But I'm like, oh my goodness, I am not changing
the style at all, so yeah, soyou studied other comedians and
you feel like that has reallyhelped you with your writing or
just coming up with ideas ofwhat you wanted to say.
Simon Huebner (05:00):
I think, more than anything having a quicker
wit, because it's just you upthere.
There's a lot of times where Ikind of regret Googling autism,
ass-piggers, that sort of thing.
That's another part of thediscussion, but people make.
One of the things that I wasseeing when I looked it up was
people would.
(05:21):
There would be some people whowould say how much they had
learned from watching this TVshow, and that, which is fair.
I think if you watch pressconferences and interviews, that
would help you withconversational skills.
It's the more of the back andforth banter.
I never thought I had a nosefor this sort of thing.
Niki Sterner (05:38):
You do.
I've seen videos.
Simon Huebner (05:40):
Thank you.
Well, I got pretty lucky with afew of them.
Once I started to tape, once Iupgraded my phone to have more
storage on it, I got prettylucky.
And you just have to tape justabout everything.
Oh, tape and then rewatch.
Yes, okay, where three drunkladies come in from the blues
(06:03):
bar next door.
What you guys are not going tosee on that clip is how they
instantly ticked off all theother comics with the way they
were going back and forth.
So in my head I'm planning okay, what is my answer going to be?
Sure, there's the comics inthere who know me or people in
there who know me regularly, butI figured, whichever comeback
I'm going to have, I know I'vegot this.
(06:25):
And one other thing I do wantto bring up is that, just in
general in life, wheneverthere's a, even in everyday
conversations, there's a way toanticipate what the other person
might say, which makes iteasier for you to plan what you
want to say back.
But in terms of the funny stuff,as much as I would like to
focus on the current parts, Ihave read through all my
(06:46):
evaluations from way back whenand I saw something in the
seventh grade that said bullyingwas greatly reduced because he
says he has a comeback.
I'm paraphrasing it's been awhile.
He says he has a comeback, forthis person teases this way,
this person teases that way.
It's not so much somebody elsebeing mean.
That person wants an answer andI've got to give it back or
(07:09):
else I'm just going to.
We're both feeling worse andI've taken that advice with me
also when I was working for thesame therapist I just mentioned.
And when it comes to stickingup for yourself, humor, having a
joke, having an answer with ajoke, is the way to go 100% of
the time.
Niki Sterner (07:29):
So you're talking about when you were younger and
getting bullied, I think just ingeneral.
Simon Huebner (07:34):
It's something that I was reminded of when it
comes to having a response, andthere have been other times
where somebody said this is whatthe other person was saying.
Where somebody said this iswhat the other person was saying
, and my first reaction, thatI'm saying internally is all
right, are you upset thatsomebody is being mean?
Are you upset that you don'thave an answer?
Because if it's the second one,you might want to do what I did
(07:57):
and start looking up the likesof George Carlin and Chris Rock
and those guys.
Niki Sterner (08:01):
So are you saying that's important because that's
something that you can control,versus the other person who
can't?
Simon Huebner (08:08):
Right, I think, yeah, just prepared Absolutely.
It's just a matter of you can'tlet anything phase you on stage
, and the secret to having someof these comebacks on stage was
anything that has happened.
Anything on stage gives you ananswer to say the thing that you
, if you had a crowd, when itcomes to crowd work, when it
(08:28):
comes to having an answer onstage for any situation, it's
because it reminds you ofsomething that happened in the
past where you may have had theperfect comeback, but the second
too late, and that's the sortof thing you can pull from in
your memory bank.
Niki Sterner (08:44):
Do you have a really good memory, Simon?
Simon Huebner (08:46):
Visually.
Yeah, when people tell me stuffit's a toss up, but I think, if
I see it first, visually verystrong.
Spatially I was a pretty goodnavigator, I've always been that
way, but yeah.
Niki Sterner (09:00):
I was just laughing to myself because you
posted this really funny videoon your story today where you
were like in the party, you'relike silent, and then you get to
your car and you're like justsinging your heart out in the
car.
Do you really do that?
That's an exaggeration, but Iloved it so much.
Simon Huebner (09:17):
This other fellow's TikTok was very amusing
.
Niki Sterner (09:19):
Oh my gosh, that was so funny.
I was cracking up picturing yousinging in your car.
Simon Huebner (09:26):
I'm more of a podcast fan but yes, do you sing
at all or play music or it'snot like I could know a few
chords on a guitar, but it'stough to have that pitch, you
know.
Niki Sterner (09:35):
Yeah.
Simon Huebner (09:39):
That's.
It's totally different to hit anote versus carrying a tune,
but yeah, no it's.
I think that's another versionof creativity that would have
been nice to have nurtured alittle bit more when I was
younger.
Niki Sterner (09:48):
I think you're really good at taking a moment
and thinking before you saysomething on stage.
I've noticed that when youperform, is that something that
you consciously do.
Okay, very good question so youstop and think what did they
ask me?
And then go into your jokes,like you said, like from the
past.
And how am I going to answerthis?
Simon Huebner (10:07):
Okay, there's multiple parts here.
That is a very good question.
I've had to slow downintentionally.
Niki Sterner (10:14):
Okay.
Simon Huebner (10:16):
Because I cannot tell you how many times I would
have listened to the recordingand there was a part that I
rushed through, yeah, and I alsodidn't realize the Southern
would start to come out.
Niki Sterner (10:27):
Wait, where did you grow up?
Simon Huebner (10:29):
I'm a local here, Atlanta.
Niki Sterner (10:31):
Oh, you are no way .
Simon Huebner (10:34):
Well, believe it or not, yes, so we don't hear a
lot of Southern accents anymore,but it will come out, I guess,
if I have to shout or if I dranklike I used to, but it doesn't
really come out that often.
And so when you talk fast andyou're from the South, that's
what I call boomhouring it, likethe guy from King of the Hill
(10:56):
who just talking super fast andno one really if you're watching
it you did not understand whathe said, but I guess there was a
joke somewhere in there.
And also one thing that I havelearned the hard way that I
think would help anybody who ison a mic.
You have a mic, it's going tobe amplified.
Somebody else talks along withyou.
(11:16):
You have to make sure thateverybody else heard what you
heard, because there's acomeback that I've had.
There's something that I hadplanned let's say it was at the
Laughing Skull Lounge this is along time ago where I ended up
going.
I was I'm fourth on the openmic list and the previous couple
(11:37):
of times I had heard somebodytalk along loud enough that I
could hear them, but I could notunderstand what they were
saying, like Charlie Brown'sparents.
And so the first guy goes up.
He's typically a guy with veryhigh energy.
I think he'd gotten back fromperforming a cruise and didn't
have that normal energy and thisis somebody who I think is a
(11:58):
total killer on stage.
Second guy was a TV writer whohe was in town for I forget
which show he was on, somethingseemed a little off, didn't have
such high energy.
Third comic this is somebody Idon't want to mention anything,
any details, because this is notsomebody I had a lot of respect
(12:19):
for on and off and this personquit a while back.
Okay, so I'm fourth.
I see this person hesitatingmore than usual and I'm like all
right, something's going on,let me see what happens.
So I hear somebody else tryingto talk with me, thinking it's a
conversation, but what I'mhearing is Charlie Brown's
teacher.
Niki Sterner (12:38):
While you're on stage.
Simon Huebner (12:39):
Yes, these previous three times are
happening same venue on stage.
So I step forward, I try to aska clarifying question Because
I'm fourth.
This is a good spot.
I don't want to waste it.
So her friend sitting next toher shouts out it's her birthday
.
Okay, now I'm fuming, but all Isaid was in a fuming voice.
(13:00):
Do you realize how manymillions of people have a
birthday without being a drunkhot mess?
Oh gosh, got an applause breakfrom the audience, but like I
was trying to rant and do my setand that doesn't work, but
that's an example of hitting apressure point so I went
backstage and all the othercomedians also started clapping
because I made it easier forthem.
But also, that TV writer waslike you handled that as well as
(13:22):
you could have, which isanother pretty huge compliment.
Oh yeah, I writer was like youhandled that as well as you
could have, which is anotherpretty huge compliment.
Oh yeah, I think, when it comesto the compliments, if you go a
long time without hearing themand then you hear them, I've got
to watch myself and stay humble.
A bomb could be lurking.
You might say the wrong thingto the wrong person.
There's a way to keep an evenkeel, but I do appreciate
(13:43):
compliments like that and theones that you've given since we
have met.
Niki Sterner (13:49):
If you've been living with chronic symptoms
like pain, brain fog,sensitivity to smells, light or
sound, it might not just be yourbody, it could be your brain,
stuck in a survival loop.
Dnrs stands for Dynamic NeuralRetraining System.
It's a science-backed programthat helps rewire the limbic
system, the part of the brainresponsible for fear, fight or
flight and overreaction toeveryday things.
(14:12):
It changed everything for me,helping me heal and return to
the creative life I love.
If this speaks to you, clickthe link in the caption.
It might be the answer you'relooking for.
So, do you have any sort ofmindset routine that you do
before you get up on stage, ordo you tell yourself something
before you go?
How do you?
Simon Huebner (14:30):
stay positive and how do you keep your energy up?
I think just maybe not so muchbefore a show.
I think you just want to bepresent.
Niki Sterner (14:41):
Do you go over your lines in your head?
What do you do?
Or do you just do?
You take a deep breath?
Simon Huebner (14:46):
I'll try to jot notes down If I get a chance
during the day.
That can be a little tough toplan, depending on a workload
and in case it's like the job Ijust mentioned, work does
absolutely come first.
I'm on the clock for a reason,but in that time when I'm off
the clock and before I'm goingout to shows, doing something
active also helps.
It could be a walk, any sort ofcalisthenic, the gym or
(15:10):
something.
Gym gets crowded.
See what you can do at home.
Or go off to a park orsomewhere.
I really like my bicycle.
I would not recommend riding italong some of these Atlanta
streets.
Yeah, and like we said, this isas much as the podcast is about
creativity.
It's also as important to havesomething that keeps you active,
something that's a way to vent,something that's a way to get
(15:33):
some aggression out because, say, there's some work stress.
I didn't think I was a happy,go lucky, positive person until
a bunch of people said that Iwas.
I typically for those who don'tknow me can be a very serious
person offstage.
I'll chat with you before ashow, just things like that.
But first thing I have to doreally is disarm the audience
(15:53):
because I'm really not asserious or uptight or as intense
as I look.
Niki Sterner (15:57):
That's true.
That's a good point.
Simon Huebner (15:59):
Whatever the opposite of golden retriever
energy is, that's me and Ipromise I'm not going to bite
anybody.
Niki Sterner (16:06):
Do you have that in your jokes?
Simon Huebner (16:08):
I've started saying that I think you should
Thanks For as long as I've beendoing this.
I would like to get better atthe editing part and I'm
realizing that you play backyour set.
Okay, here's the laugh, thenthe next one, then the next one.
And I think if somebody were toask me okay, if I were to put
(16:28):
myself out there asking for bookshows, longer sets, it's okay.
How long do I have to get theaudience on my side?
And then what's the quickestway I can get to this joke that
I know is funny?
Or to tag things up before Iget to something that's really
funny, or to play around withcertain details in this story,
because I'll start by writingout the details of a story, of
something that happened orsomething that I think is
significant, and then trying towork backwards.
(16:50):
Maybe there's something funnyin there, maybe it helps me
process something that helps memove on in a more, I guess, a
mentally healthier way.
Niki Sterner (16:59):
So who were you like 12 years ago or before this
?
Because I know you saidstand-up has changed who you are
from when you started to now.
Simon Huebner (17:09):
What does that look like?
Very good question.
I think I had gone from beingwork funny to do.
I really want to do this adozen years ago.
Niki Sterner (17:18):
Was there something that flipped like a
switch?
Did somebody ask you a question?
Was it at the therapist?
Simon Huebner (17:23):
No, I think just in conversation, whether it was
family, friends or people I knew, or just getting laughs at work
.
Okay, I have a really goodstory.
It's one of many of them andit's from a decade ago.
This is from.
I was out of town workingduring snowpocalypse and I
thought carmageddon was a bettername.
Niki Sterner (17:43):
Carmageddon.
Simon Huebner (17:44):
I thought that was so much better than
snowpocalypse.
So it's like I'm out of town,yeah, and I had been working up
north and I had been talkingwith you, have to make
conversation with all theseother people on a well-drilling
site.
I had to do my own computerstuff.
I had to get a log of rock data, gas data, that sort of thing,
(18:06):
but you have to end up chattingwith everybody else and that day
in Pennsylvania, in the middleof nowhere, you're going to have
to deal with everybody'sAtlanta jokes, or I had to.
Oh yeah, so I'm going to sayit's not that I was leveling the
room, but I had an answer Likeokay, none of y'all states are
anything special either, so I'vegot to have an answer for that.
(18:28):
And I think the other thing interms of comedy, like the itch,
had come back.
But I had to work.
I wasn't sure about thelogistics of doing that, and so
I tried it a while back, onceand then twice.
Twice was just so awful I sworeI was never, ever doing it
again, and so I remember it was2014.
It was Independence Day weekendand I was in Philadelphia, had
(18:51):
some time off and I checked outHelium Comedy.
Bouncer asked if I was going upI must have said something
funny.
I don't remember what I said,but he laughed.
So I was like, all right, Istill got it.
But I watched this open mic andthe first seven or so were
pretty good.
First seven were good but theyhad to be there for either work
or school or family stuff.
And then it's about 30 or soother comedians that I'm just
(19:13):
watching and there was one jokethat I remember.
I remember thinking, okay, Icould have done the disappointed
basement kid thing better thanyou guys did.
And I've actually read a fewbooks which shows I can talk
about something other thanmyself, and I'm like all right,
let me sit down, grab a notebookwhen I have downtime and I'm
just going to start scribblingthe things that I want to say so
I can fill up a five minute setonce this job is over with, and
(19:37):
it was over with soon enoughwithin less than a year.
So I just figured, all right,it's go time, which I try to
make it go time when I can.
Sometimes life happens,sometimes there's a work
situation or family stuff, orI've really got to take care of
a more important priority,because it's important to
remember that we get to docomedy.
(19:58):
We don't have to do it.
Niki Sterner (20:00):
When is your mic, Simon, that you host?
Simon Huebner (20:02):
Second and fourth Mondays of every month.
Niki Sterner (20:05):
And where is it at ?
Simon Huebner (20:06):
The Beer Growler in Brookhaven, and how's that
going?
It really surpassed all theexpectations that I would have
had.
One.
It's an unlockable area.
You have a lot of people goingto shops and restaurants nearby.
They can always pop in.
There's some regulars, there'sa regular amount of performers
and I'll try to go out andbranch out in a way that will
(20:28):
bring in performers that aremore than comedians.
Niki Sterner (20:32):
Like what.
Simon Huebner (20:33):
Musicians.
We've had some poets.
There's a friend of ours whomixes magic with comedy.
Niki Sterner (20:40):
I was going to ask if you invite clowns there too,
because I know that the clownscene in Atlanta is starting to
grow.
Simon Huebner (20:48):
I actually did go to a mic to do comedy.
I didn't realize there weregoing to be clowns at this venue
and I went up after them.
They were not in costume.
I did not know what I signed upfor.
All is to say, yes, I am downto clown, you're down to clown.
Okay, that's right, I am downto clown, you're down to clown.
Niki Sterner (21:03):
Okay, that's right .
Clowning is fun because itreally it's you falling in love
with the audience and wantingthem to love you back.
So it really I feel like ithelps that audience interaction
which we have with standup too,if we're brave enough to do
crowd work like you do.
So that's, I've been taking it,but you're doing it.
Simon Huebner (21:24):
Well, one thing that I've found is that my
thinking was I wanted to get mybits out there as they were, but
you really have to be willingto throw away whatever your plan
material was in order to dothat thing.
Because there are things whereI'm glad you brought that part
up, because the main key to itis you have to be willing to
(21:46):
throw away your preparedmaterial, break that fourth wall
to show that you are present.
Niki Sterner (21:50):
How do you do that ?
Simon Huebner (21:52):
I think from earlier.
It goes back to how do I reactwhen this happens.
It's about trying to anticipatewhat somebody else might say,
whether it's good, okay or badand if I have a bit that I've
tried or say I know the audienceisn't always listening I might
try to open with a rhetoricalquestion and give them a choice
(22:14):
and see who answers it.
Niki Sterner (22:16):
Oh, I like that.
Simon Huebner (22:18):
So, for example, I would say the bit that should
be my bread and butter is aboutscary movies versus Disney
movies, and the bit that I hadwas I'll bring up talking funny
a little bit If I stumble overmy words.
I'm like all right, shocker.
(22:38):
I saw a speech therapist wayback when while my classmates
were watching Disney movies,when while my classmates are
watching Disney movies.
But then I'll give the audiencea choice, because I saw these
scary movies in full, from startto finish, rather than these
Disney movies in parts that Ialso ended up seeing once.
I first got my Netflix accountand cut up, which is what I was
doing a dozen years ago.
I was working, but I was stilldoing this on the clock when I
(23:02):
could.
Niki Sterner (23:02):
Have you kept track?
So you've been doing this formore than 12 years.
Simon Huebner (23:05):
Oh no, that first couple of times was a dozen
years ago.
The first time where I said,all right, I don't have a lot of
stuff going on right now was adecade ago.
But life had happened a fewtimes.
Because I was trying to plan interms of my future Okay, how do
I plan for that?
The game had changed in comedyso much I didn't realize.
(23:31):
Okay, what would you do to be afull-time comedian?
That's still something I havestill yet to really figure out.
I know there's different waysto do that.
I know there's different waysfor me to find a voice and to
broadcast stuff online.
I also know that I said a goodbit of what I saw about my job.
There are things that I wouldlike to say, but I've also
second guessed myself in termsof all right, who's going to
find this?
Even if people at work knowsome of them actually found some
(23:52):
of the stuff that I had found,but I had already gotten along
with these folks just inchatting after fixing whichever
computer service they needed forthem to do their job.
Niki Sterner (24:02):
Simon, what would you say is your brand of comedy?
Simon Huebner (24:05):
So I try to stick with things that actually
happened within my life.
I try to stick with 100%authenticity, but I'll play
around with details.
But I'll check the news apponce or twice a day to see if
something funny I can getsomething funny out of that.
So whether it's my Google Newsapp or AP, I'll try to see
something like that If there'ssome new story.
(24:25):
That's.
I wish I had more time to lookup press conferences or
interviews on YouTube and thingsof that nature.
So it's not just hey, thishappened to me.
This will never be therapy.
I'll never ask an audience tosolve my problems for me.
It should be expected thatyou've done something about it
and I think a lot of people thatyou might see on stage.
They are clearly still in theprocess of working something out
(24:47):
and I'm being charitable.
Niki Sterner (24:49):
I created the Confidence Kickstart morning
routine because I know what it'slike to have big dreams and
still feel stuck behindself-doubt, fear or the pressure
to get it right.
As an actor, comedian andaward-winning filmmaker, I've
been on over 50 stages, butconfidence didn't come first.
Action and habits did.
This free guide gives you theexact 15-minute routine I use
(25:10):
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path and action.
These aren't just feel-goodideas.
They're habits that work, thatbuild confidence, that move you
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If you're ready to stopoverthinking and start showing
up the link is in the caption Gograb it and start your day with
(25:32):
clarity, courage and realmomentum.
So, as far as organizing yourjokes, do you have a method for
that?
Simon Huebner (25:41):
I think writing it down in a notebook helps with
retaining it, the information.
Niki Sterner (25:46):
So you like writing it and then do you say
it out loud a bunch of times,memorizing it, or do you just
have an idea?
Simon Huebner (25:52):
Most of the time it's an idea, and I guess the
trick is to work backwards tofigure out what's the quickest
way I can get there to the funnypart, yeah, yeah, or just, I
think, listening back to stuffand making notes from those.
I think that helps with theediting for what you want your
laughs per minute to be how manymics are you doing per week, or
(26:16):
does it just vary?
it varies.
I think, if I counted it out,there is more stage time to be
had, since everything returnedafter we all were supposed to
get our COVID shots.
No, I do think.
Okay, like I for one, I gotolder family members.
I did not want to return untilI got my shots, and then, later
(26:37):
on, when I passed that ITcertification exam, I think
there's more stage time to behad.
Now that's good.
The most I've done in one nightwas five, but I could say no,
that's too much.
The energy level was just notthere.
Niki Sterner (26:52):
How did you do that?
When was that?
Simon Huebner (26:54):
It was on a Wednesday, it was Farm Burger,
Smith's Mozzarella, Mike Pullman, Yards and El Dorado.
Niki Sterner (27:00):
Whoa.
Simon Huebner (27:03):
That was not that smart.
I just wanted to see if I coulddo that and set that high score
.
Typically during a week, ifeverything goes right, you could
do at least 10 or a dozen mics,maybe more.
But however, I have to balancethat with, I think, in terms of
work, I had to learn how topractice smart.
So if something happened, thatwas one I've got to be up early
(27:29):
and I've never been an earlybird.
I don't remember a time where Ireally was getting up early or
there could have been.
I don't share personal detailsabout other folks at work, but
some things that were going oncertain families while I was
teaching I'm like my stagepresence is going to go to ashes
(27:49):
.
So there's going to be timeswhere I'm like all right, just
go home, figure out anotherskill, do something else, go on
other adventures, do somethingelse to regroup and recharge.
It's not just learning how topractice smart, and what I mean
by that is trying to practiceone thing at a time, one bit at
a time.
I'll say this is who I am, orI'll say this is the bit that I
(28:11):
was thinking about.
Then I'll fall back on a bitthat I know worked, or something
like that if the first bitbombed.
Niki Sterner (28:18):
Okay.
Simon Huebner (28:18):
Or I think just knowing how to edit is, I think,
how you separate theheavyweights from the pretenders
.
That's how you separateheavyweights from just people
who are okay, and I couldcertainly get better at editing.
Niki Sterner (28:32):
So when do you do so?
If you work full-time workduring the day, when are you
creating your videos and writingyour comedy and stuff?
Just throughout, or at night?
Simon Huebner (28:42):
Okay, if I get a video, if I tape the video, I
can play that back.
I can have that one ready to goat a certain time.
Niki Sterner (28:50):
At night on the weekends.
Simon Huebner (28:52):
Or whenever I set the time to do.
That could be lunch break.
I could get better, but, like Isaid in my position, there's a
few things I felt like I've hadto watch a lot more lately than
usual, so there's been a lot ofsecond guessing lately, which is
wild to say, on a podcastcalled the Confident Shortcut.
Niki Sterner (29:11):
How do you move forward, even with second
guessing?
Simon Huebner (29:14):
Because, let's say, in any place people
performing, I think you have toknow that, hey, I belong up
there or I could do this In away that's not really.
Some people would feel that waywith dance Wonderful.
Some people might feel that waywith music or basketball or a
theater, musical things of thatnature.
(29:34):
But I think when it comes tolow overhead and you don't know
anything about me, and thentrying to grab the mic and do
something, comedy was it for meand improv could be that for
other folks.
And yeah, I've heard goodthings about being able to train
that other muscle in your brainas well.
Niki Sterner (29:51):
That's fantastic.
All right, we are going to hopinto the confidence quick fire
round now.
So this is five questions thatI ask everyone who comes on the
podcast, all right?
So the first one is, simon, canyou define confidence for me
and what that means to you?
Simon Huebner (30:06):
It's that belief that deep down, you're capable
of doing something, doing a goalwhich most of the time you've
set for yourself.
And it's a matter of not justthat but also how you act
towards others in how you'reaccomplishing that goal.
Because I think there's adifference between that belief,
mostly the quiet confidence, butmore a belief in yourself
(30:29):
versus hey, we get it, You'resmart.
That's the difference betweenreading and reading a room, in a
way.
Niki Sterner (30:36):
I love that.
Simon Huebner (30:37):
Okay.
Niki Sterner (30:37):
The second question is what's one bold move
you made before you felt ready?
Simon Huebner (30:43):
One bold move I made before I felt ready.
One bold move I made before Ifelt ready.
Niki Sterner (30:46):
Something you did.
Simon Huebner (30:46):
I'm going to think here.
Niki Sterner (30:48):
You just said it because you were like talking
about how you were secondguessing something, but yet you
told yourself no, I belong upthere, I belong up there with
them.
Simon Huebner (30:57):
I think in terms of you know what, just for that,
just because you said that I'mgoing to post a couple of those
clips that I had, I might haveto censor a couple of them.
I'll show them to a few friendsof mine.
I hope they pass it on to theirfriends and yeah, that's going
to be your bold move.
In the short term sure.
Niki Sterner (31:17):
Yeah.
Simon Huebner (31:17):
But I think I spent most of my 30s as a
special ed teacher withouthaving any sort of credential in
that whatsoever.
It's the guy who I was workingfor, whose forte was learning
disabilities.
I was between jobs and tutoringout of his office.
We found you could do yourclasses online and, yeah, that
ended up lasting really for mostof my 30s.
Niki Sterner (31:37):
Wow, yeah, thanks.
That's amazing.
So you were teaching and youdidn't have the credentials or
anything, you just felt calledto it.
Simon Huebner (31:46):
I had started tutoring and I think for what I
had set up it was like aone-room schoolhouse with
internet, so I would have asmall group around a table, move
around, help with manageabletasks, and I think, more than
anything, people just need agrown-up to listen to them.
Niki Sterner (32:03):
Oh, I love that.
Simon Huebner (32:04):
Thanks.
Niki Sterner (32:05):
Yeah.
So, simon, how do you quietyour inner critic?
Do you ever have that voice inyour head that's telling you
that you can't do something, orthat, anything like that,
anything negative in your head?
What do you do when you hearthat?
Simon Huebner (32:18):
I think it's about taking small steps, one at
a time.
So, like I said, I brought upan IT certification exam earlier
.
Frankly, I should probablyspend more time doing that than
I am at Mike's.
I should be studying for thisinstead of Mike's, I've
sometimes felt, but the test isso long I just had to break it
(32:39):
up into multiple parts, justsmall parts, one thing at a time
, one thing at a time, brick bybrick, like one thing that I
said many times out loud was allright, I am as Jewish as matzo
ball soup, but I can see whyCatholics cross themselves
Because it is a lot to remember.
So if you say that, like luck oranything like that, I escaped
(32:59):
being medicated like almostevery other 90s suburban kid did
.
But I think one of the reasonsthere's kind of a story my mom
had about that, but I thinkbasically it was like when my
dad read the side effects forsome of these drugs.
He basically said after takingone, look at the side effects.
(33:20):
I'd rather my kid have someinternal distractions than a
potential heart problem.
That's a cost benefit.
That's a risk reward analysis,but that's why I wasn't
medicated.
But the way that I was, I guess, brought up I think I would
hear people talk aboutmeditation and whatnot I'm like
that's the same thing.
It felt like the same way.
I had been shown to pray and Idon't remember what I would have
(33:43):
prayed for as a kid.
But I think if you stop andhesitate and do that sort of
thing for a second to take yourmind off something, do something
else for a little bit.
I think it helps with focus andhelps relax yeah.
Niki Sterner (33:58):
Okay, the next question is what's one habit
that's helped you build realconfidence?
Simon Huebner (34:03):
Okay, a habit that I had.
Niki Sterner (34:06):
Or that you have now that you love.
Simon Huebner (34:11):
I don't know if it's more of a habit, but more
of something I realized or a waythat I've tried to trick myself
, and that's no one's going toremember your screw-ups.
That's for you.
That's hard enough to remembermy own stuff and then what
everybody else did.
That's hard enough to remembermy own stuff and then what
everybody else did.
And even when I had this highschool reunion last year, it
really felt like a game ofchicken to see who might bring
up what.
But I think everybody's busytalking about their own selves
(34:32):
and what they've got going onand their families and things
like that.
It was nice.
No one brings up theembarrassing stuff.
So thank you, lakeside class of2004.
Now it's a very nice reunion,but I think no one's really
going to remember, as long as Ican be where I'm supposed to be,
(34:53):
try new stuff, like I did incomedy.
So the other things that Iwould have mentioned whether
it's things that happened in thepast, or trying to be
professional or in comedy thingswere not going well.
It was one of those times Ishould not have been going out
just because I'm not going tosay what happened with this one
family, but I went back to aclub which was relapse theater
and I figured okay, I'm going togo here, I'm going to try a new
(35:16):
three minute set every singleweek, hopefully it all hits.
But that's where I gotcomfortable saying okay, I'm
going to try something new everysingle time and hopefully it
hits.
But even if there's one.
But you want to have a placethat feels like your home
territory and that's the placewhere you feel most supported
and that gives you theconfidence to say I can try this
without worrying.
(35:36):
It's somebody who?
What would happen in the backof the room?
Who's going to be there?
Is there a booker there?
Is there somebody attractive inthe audience?
I had to trick myself that itdoesn't matter who would be in
the audience, because if youstart caring about this stuff,
you're going to think too much.
(35:58):
And yeah, there's multipledifferent ways where I would
have had to trick myself intosaying I'm going to do this
thing.
Niki Sterner (36:06):
I love that habit of going to the same place and
making yourself do three minutesof new stuff every week at a
home base type.
You felt comfortable.
I love that.
Simon Huebner (36:13):
Yeah, Because if you're watching a headliner or
somebody that you like and youwatch them build out a longer
set, that's where the editingcomes into play.
It's not just filling time.
Niki Sterner (36:27):
It's about listening back, Simon.
Our last question here I wantedto know if there was a favorite
book or resource or affirmationthat you say to yourself that
changed how you think.
Do you like to read books orlisten to podcasts or anything
that really stood out?
Simon Huebner (36:39):
Yeah, that's a good one.
I think one thing that got meover some just absolutely
crushing social anxiety so muchso that when I would catch up
with folks, they're like, wait,you're doing standup.
But there's this little voicein my head and when it came to a
conversation, I was like, allright, I might not be that
religious, but I had to tellmyself something that I heard
(37:01):
when I was a kid that whoeveryou I had to tell myself
something that I heard when Iwas a kid that whoever you're
talking to, that person's inGod's image, start acting like
it.
And that got me throughconversations that were anxiety
inducing, as well as the ones Idid not want to have.
And that's a way of thinkingthat, okay, we all belong here
without being better thananybody else or worse than
anybody else, and there's abouta dozen different ways to
(37:22):
express that idea, but that'sthe one that popped into my head
at a certain time.
Niki Sterner (37:27):
Absolutely love that.
The thinking that we all belonghere.
Yeah, yeah.
Simon Huebner (37:33):
Now, when it comes to the bits that I would
want to put on there online,there's ways of looking up
strategies when it comes to thethumbnails, when it comes to
what you want to be known forand I'm still trying to learn
that part, and it's been a whileIf somebody has done the work
on online sales and things likethat, would be something I
(37:55):
should be taking notes on sothat I can figure out.
Okay, what am I going torepresent when I get these clips
up?
Niki Sterner (38:01):
You mean, what is your brand of comedy?
Simon Huebner (38:04):
Yeah, for what we're doing is comedy.
But let's say I had a businessidea.
I think a lot of the same,whether it's a podcast, like you
have a business idea or astandup act or anything where
you're trying to say, hey, lookat me, I want to monetize this
thing.
That's the watching onlinesales, like Gary V's videos
(38:25):
didn't make sense on Insta to me.
When I saw the longer form, I'mlike, okay, this makes sense
now.
And there's other people whohave said, okay, this is how you
build a brand.
And so there comes a time where, if I use these things, I don't
have a sales background.
Let me try what they're saying.
Niki Sterner (38:41):
So do you think that's what's next for you,
Simon?
Simon Huebner (38:43):
That I don't have a sales background.
Let me try what they're saying.
So do you think that's what'snext for you?
Simon, that's hard to say interms of hammering out what I
wanted to say online because Ithought what would have come
next.
I, like I said, there's anadditional certification I would
like to get for the IT skills,if there's a business idea that
comes to me.
Yes, I'm still trying to figurethat part out.
When it comes to all these otherskills that a comedian would
(39:06):
have, when it comes to it can'tbe just standup.
I tried podcasting.
It's tough, the editing aloneand there's all these other
things that you would have tobroadcast it online.
And I guess I'm still trying tofigure out what is that thing
that would grab people'sattention, because I was not
thrilled the first time I lookedup autism, asperger, that sort
(39:29):
of thing and I think peoplemeant well, but they're all kind
of processing their own issues.
It's like how much do I leaninto this thing when I just have
to not let any sort ofdefinition or comment that would
have infantilized it, just haveto brush it away?
Niki Sterner (39:48):
I think you've done a great job of that of
really just representingyourself and not necessarily
what people say.
That is online, like you'resaying.
I think you're very authentic onstage and in person, and I want
to congratulate you on that,because that is a huge thing to
figure out, and it sounds likeyou've done a lot of writing,
you've done a lot of prayer,you've done a lot of mental work
(40:10):
as well, just to put yourselfon stage and figure it out,
because a lot of people figurethat out by taking action.
I think you figure out yourvoice by using it, by writing,
by being on stage, and for you,you've had the confidence to do
that.
You've taken action before youfelt ready.
I don't know if you ever feltstuck, but I don't feel like
(40:31):
you're stuck now.
I feel like you're moving anddoing stuff, and so I want to
congratulate you on that,because that is huge.
That's huge.
You're a very brave person and Ireally do enjoy time with you
and I'm so happy that you cameon today.
Thanks, yeah, and I really doenjoy time with you and I'm so
happy that you came on today.
Thanks, this is, yeah.
I'm so excited that you're here.
Thank you, simon, for beinghere.
Simon Huebner (40:46):
It was glad to be invited on.
Thank you so much.
And I think when I felt stuck,it's a matter of what you fill
your brain with.
So if you're not, if you'reonly able to feel like a one
trick pony, this is when I guessI realized one thing that sort
of snapped me out of it.
One last thing you rememberwhen Borders went out of
(41:06):
business and they had a goingout of business sale Okay, it's
probably 15 years ago, but I'mgetting different books that are
about less than $10.
And I was finishing up school,only had a couple of classes to
go, but I figured, okay, I'dtake one chapter of a book
because I got extra time, thenanother chapter of the next book
(41:26):
, extra time, and so on, andthat really was a game changer
in terms of the amount of topicsthat I was able to have,
because if you have differentinterests, you want to fill your
brain in a certain way withdifferent stuff, rather than
because so much of entertainmentis us being talked at, and I
think you have to have somethingin your head that says all
(41:47):
right, who died and made thisperson in charge?
Why is this person being lookedat as an expert when I know
that's not really true.
It all goes back to just beingactive in more than one way.
Niki Sterner (42:00):
Yeah, definitely so.
You're mentally active, you'relearning new things, new topics.
You're physically active,you're pushing your body so that
you have a way to get theenergy out if you're frustrated
from work or whatnot.
Yeah, and then mentally you'resaying prayers or you're
changing your thought patternsso that you can have that
(42:22):
positive outlook that we see inyou in life.
Simon Huebner (42:26):
I'm trying, but yeah, thank you.
Niki Sterner (42:27):
Yeah.
Simon Huebner (42:28):
I think Bravo, thank you.
Yeah, we've really got to payattention to how others feel
when they're leaving.
Niki Sterner (42:36):
When they're leaving.
Simon Huebner (42:38):
Yeah, I've never understood why grownups are like
I had a struggle.
This person should also, theyounger generation should also,
and you should want them to.
I guess the former teacher inme would say, okay, I really
don't want y'all feeling thesame way I felt.
Yeah, that just goes back toreading the room versus just
reading, and yeah, it's animportant skill to have, even
(43:00):
off stage.
Niki Sterner (43:01):
Yeah, amazing.
Thank you so much, simon.
Simon Huebner (43:03):
Thank you, Nikki.
Niki Sterner (43:05):
Thanks so much for listening to the Confident
Shortcut.
I hope today's episode wokesomething up in you, reminding
you that your dream matters andyou can start now.
If this sparked something,share it with a friend who needs
it too.
And don't forget to follow meon Instagram at Nikki Sterner
and join our Facebook communityat the Confident Shortcut.
Ready to take the next step?
Check out my free guide, theConfidence Kickstart, linked in
(43:27):
the show notes.
Keep showing up, keep takingaction, and remember the
shortcut to confidence iscourage.
Welcome to the Confidence Shortcut, the podcast
for ambitious creatives andentrepreneurs who are ready to
stop overthinking, take boldaction and finally step into the
life they've been dreamingabout.
I'm your host, nikki Sterner,mom, actor, comedian and
producer.
After years of playing smalland waiting to feel ready, I
went on a courage quest andfound a shortcut to confidence.
(00:21):
Each week I'll bring you realstories, simple steps and
conversations with experts inmindset courage and confidence,
plus heart-to-hearts with fellowcreatives who are turning their
dreams into reality.
It's time to get unstuck andstart showing up.
Let's dive in.
Welcome everyone to theConfidence Shortcut.
I'm so excited to have SimonHuebner on today with us.
(00:43):
He is a super talented comedian, one of the first people that I
met when I started in stand-upcomedy in Atlanta, and I have
just adored him and I lovewatching him out on stage.
He's so likable on stage.
You're going to love him today.
So Simon started comedy andwriting jokes because he was
delusional enough to think he'dbe the first person who publicly
found the humor in Asperger'sand needed something to do
(01:06):
during evenings outside of home.
It quickly became apparent that, with a wide range of life
experiences and opinions, thathis comedy had more to say, than
just his diagnosis.
These circumstances includebeing a Jew who often fit out,
an under-motivated bookwormlanguishing in his mother's
basement while finishing ageology degree, a former oil
(01:28):
field worker and a special edteacher of a home-based study
program, some of which haveoverlapped with each other.
I mean, that is so much rightthere, simon.
I'm like, oh my gosh, tell memore, please.
Please, tell me what you aredoing right now that you're
loving, and I want to hear allabout this.
Simon Huebner (01:44):
Well, thank you again.
This positivity, this is all,nikki.
So yeah, I think, when it comesto the things that I would be
doing in life right now, it'sabout having goals that are more
manageable.
So say, you were back in schooland you're expected to be good
at every single subject.
That doesn't really happen.
I think we all know real life'snot always like that.
(02:06):
So, for example, teaching wasending, I was not doing comedy,
I was planning for an ITcertification exam.
Those were things where I'mlooking at a list, I've got note
cards, I've got.
Really, it's about justdifferent strategies, about how
to take a test, get thecertification, get hired on at a
government organization I willnot be saying which one I'm a
(02:28):
contractor for but I thinkhaving that test and trying to
get a little bit better atsomething, these are all more
manageable goals, things thatare easy to envision.
Niki Sterner (02:37):
So, simon, take me back to when you were finishing
a geology degree and wrappingup college and going into the
work field.
Did you have any sort ofcreative aspirations at that
time, or were you just I need toget a job, I need to work.
What were you doing?
Simon Huebner (02:53):
Okay, I didn't have the best experience in
school, so I really just want tosay I met the right therapist
when I was nine and that went along way.
Didn't see him for a while,then went back.
He's the one who gave me theidea for geology.
I liked it.
I stuck with it as I wasfinishing up.
In terms of creativity, Ialways liked how humor worked,
(03:17):
so to speak.
I always liked what madesomething funny and why certain
people could get away withsaying certain things, whereas
someone else, if they're soserious, is not going to get
away with saying certain things,whereas someone else, if
they're so serious, is not goingto get away with it.
And I just remember one time itwas like 2010, I go down this
YouTube rabbit hole and I lookup George Carlin's Seven Words
because I wanted to watch it.
The whole thing.
(03:37):
Is this a clean podcast?
I don't plan on saying thiseither way, but-.
It is a clean podcast but so Ilooked george carlin's seven
words what?
Niki Sterner (03:45):
I don't know that.
What is that exactly?
Simon Huebner (03:47):
it's a clean podcast and I'll tell you
afterwards.
It's okay.
You cannot say on televisionokay, some of them you can now,
but I'm not gonna again, this isa clean podcast, I'll go over
it.
You can youtube seven dirtywords you cannot say on tv oh
but the way I didn't reallyrealize how algorithms were
showing you the next thing, andthen the next thing, and then
(04:09):
the next thing, and then thenext thing, and so I ended up
just diving into comedy and Icannot make up what happened
next, because, like I could saysomething very funny in a room
that could destroy the room, butI could not do it consistently.
But the more I'm listening toother comedians, even if it is
not my style or not, mysensibilities, like my brain,
(04:36):
started firing faster and Ifound I would much rather be
watching this than I would be atypical yak fest or the same old
things on the radio.
There used to be a radiostation in Atlanta.
It's like they fill their airswith comedy but they couldn't
fill up anything else and itjust was not profitable.
Niki Sterner (04:48):
But I'm like, oh my goodness, I am not changing
the style at all, so yeah, soyou studied other comedians and
you feel like that has reallyhelped you with your writing or
just coming up with ideas ofwhat you wanted to say.
Simon Huebner (05:00):
I think, more than anything having a quicker
wit, because it's just you upthere.
There's a lot of times where Ikind of regret Googling autism,
ass-piggers, that sort of thing.
That's another part of thediscussion, but people make.
One of the things that I wasseeing when I looked it up was
people would.
(05:21):
There would be some people whowould say how much they had
learned from watching this TVshow, and that, which is fair.
I think if you watch pressconferences and interviews, that
would help you withconversational skills.
It's the more of the back andforth banter.
I never thought I had a nosefor this sort of thing.
Niki Sterner (05:38):
You do.
I've seen videos.
Simon Huebner (05:40):
Thank you.
Well, I got pretty lucky with afew of them.
Once I started to tape, once Iupgraded my phone to have more
storage on it, I got prettylucky.
And you just have to tape justabout everything.
Oh, tape and then rewatch.
Yes, okay, where three drunkladies come in from the blues
(06:03):
bar next door.
What you guys are not going tosee on that clip is how they
instantly ticked off all theother comics with the way they
were going back and forth.
So in my head I'm planning okay, what is my answer going to be?
Sure, there's the comics inthere who know me or people in
there who know me regularly, butI figured, whichever comeback
I'm going to have, I know I'vegot this.
(06:25):
And one other thing I do wantto bring up is that, just in
general in life, wheneverthere's a, even in everyday
conversations, there's a way toanticipate what the other person
might say, which makes iteasier for you to plan what you
want to say back.
But in terms of the funny stuff,as much as I would like to
focus on the current parts, Ihave read through all my
(06:46):
evaluations from way back whenand I saw something in the
seventh grade that said bullyingwas greatly reduced because he
says he has a comeback.
I'm paraphrasing it's been awhile.
He says he has a comeback, forthis person teases this way,
this person teases that way.
It's not so much somebody elsebeing mean.
That person wants an answer andI've got to give it back or
(07:09):
else I'm just going to.
We're both feeling worse andI've taken that advice with me
also when I was working for thesame therapist I just mentioned.
And when it comes to stickingup for yourself, humor, having a
joke, having an answer with ajoke, is the way to go 100% of
the time.
Niki Sterner (07:29):
So you're talking about when you were younger and
getting bullied, I think just ingeneral.
Simon Huebner (07:34):
It's something that I was reminded of when it
comes to having a response, andthere have been other times
where somebody said this is whatthe other person was saying.
Where somebody said this iswhat the other person was saying
, and my first reaction, thatI'm saying internally is all
right, are you upset thatsomebody is being mean?
Are you upset that you don'thave an answer?
Because if it's the second one,you might want to do what I did
(07:57):
and start looking up the likesof George Carlin and Chris Rock
and those guys.
Niki Sterner (08:01):
So are you saying that's important because that's
something that you can control,versus the other person who
can't?
Simon Huebner (08:08):
Right, I think, yeah, just prepared Absolutely.
It's just a matter of you can'tlet anything phase you on stage
, and the secret to having someof these comebacks on stage was
anything that has happened.
Anything on stage gives you ananswer to say the thing that you
, if you had a crowd, when itcomes to crowd work, when it
(08:28):
comes to having an answer onstage for any situation, it's
because it reminds you ofsomething that happened in the
past where you may have had theperfect comeback, but the second
too late, and that's the sortof thing you can pull from in
your memory bank.
Niki Sterner (08:44):
Do you have a really good memory, Simon?
Simon Huebner (08:46):
Visually.
Yeah, when people tell me stuffit's a toss up, but I think, if
I see it first, visually verystrong.
Spatially I was a pretty goodnavigator, I've always been that
way, but yeah.
Niki Sterner (09:00):
I was just laughing to myself because you
posted this really funny videoon your story today where you
were like in the party, you'relike silent, and then you get to
your car and you're like justsinging your heart out in the
car.
Do you really do that?
That's an exaggeration, but Iloved it so much.
Simon Huebner (09:17):
This other fellow's TikTok was very amusing
.
Niki Sterner (09:19):
Oh my gosh, that was so funny.
I was cracking up picturing yousinging in your car.
Simon Huebner (09:26):
I'm more of a podcast fan but yes, do you sing
at all or play music or it'snot like I could know a few
chords on a guitar, but it'stough to have that pitch, you
know.
Niki Sterner (09:35):
Yeah.
Simon Huebner (09:39):
That's.
It's totally different to hit anote versus carrying a tune,
but yeah, no it's.
I think that's another versionof creativity that would have
been nice to have nurtured alittle bit more when I was
younger.
Niki Sterner (09:48):
I think you're really good at taking a moment
and thinking before you saysomething on stage.
I've noticed that when youperform, is that something that
you consciously do.
Okay, very good question so youstop and think what did they
ask me?
And then go into your jokes,like you said, like from the
past.
And how am I going to answerthis?
Simon Huebner (10:07):
Okay, there's multiple parts here.
That is a very good question.
I've had to slow downintentionally.
Niki Sterner (10:14):
Okay.
Simon Huebner (10:16):
Because I cannot tell you how many times I would
have listened to the recordingand there was a part that I
rushed through, yeah, and I alsodidn't realize the Southern
would start to come out.
Niki Sterner (10:27):
Wait, where did you grow up?
Simon Huebner (10:29):
I'm a local here, Atlanta.
Niki Sterner (10:31):
Oh, you are no way .
Simon Huebner (10:34):
Well, believe it or not, yes, so we don't hear a
lot of Southern accents anymore,but it will come out, I guess,
if I have to shout or if I dranklike I used to, but it doesn't
really come out that often.
And so when you talk fast andyou're from the South, that's
what I call boomhouring it, likethe guy from King of the Hill
(10:56):
who just talking super fast andno one really if you're watching
it you did not understand whathe said, but I guess there was a
joke somewhere in there.
And also one thing that I havelearned the hard way that I
think would help anybody who ison a mic.
You have a mic, it's going tobe amplified.
Somebody else talks along withyou.
(11:16):
You have to make sure thateverybody else heard what you
heard, because there's acomeback that I've had.
There's something that I hadplanned let's say it was at the
Laughing Skull Lounge this is along time ago where I ended up
going.
I was I'm fourth on the openmic list and the previous couple
(11:37):
of times I had heard somebodytalk along loud enough that I
could hear them, but I could notunderstand what they were
saying, like Charlie Brown'sparents.
And so the first guy goes up.
He's typically a guy with veryhigh energy.
I think he'd gotten back fromperforming a cruise and didn't
have that normal energy and thisis somebody who I think is a
(11:58):
total killer on stage.
Second guy was a TV writer whohe was in town for I forget
which show he was on, somethingseemed a little off, didn't have
such high energy.
Third comic this is somebody Idon't want to mention anything,
any details, because this is notsomebody I had a lot of respect
(12:19):
for on and off and this personquit a while back.
Okay, so I'm fourth.
I see this person hesitatingmore than usual and I'm like all
right, something's going on,let me see what happens.
So I hear somebody else tryingto talk with me, thinking it's a
conversation, but what I'mhearing is Charlie Brown's
teacher.
Niki Sterner (12:38):
While you're on stage.
Simon Huebner (12:39):
Yes, these previous three times are
happening same venue on stage.
So I step forward, I try to aska clarifying question Because
I'm fourth.
This is a good spot.
I don't want to waste it.
So her friend sitting next toher shouts out it's her birthday
.
Okay, now I'm fuming, but all Isaid was in a fuming voice.
(13:00):
Do you realize how manymillions of people have a
birthday without being a drunkhot mess?
Oh gosh, got an applause breakfrom the audience, but like I
was trying to rant and do my setand that doesn't work, but
that's an example of hitting apressure point so I went
backstage and all the othercomedians also started clapping
because I made it easier forthem.
But also, that TV writer waslike you handled that as well as
(13:22):
you could have, which isanother pretty huge compliment.
Oh yeah, I writer was like youhandled that as well as you
could have, which is anotherpretty huge compliment.
Oh yeah, I think, when it comesto the compliments, if you go a
long time without hearing themand then you hear them, I've got
to watch myself and stay humble.
A bomb could be lurking.
You might say the wrong thingto the wrong person.
There's a way to keep an evenkeel, but I do appreciate
(13:43):
compliments like that and theones that you've given since we
have met.
Niki Sterner (13:49):
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So, do you have any sort ofmindset routine that you do
before you get up on stage, ordo you tell yourself something
before you go?
How do you?
Simon Huebner (14:30):
stay positive and how do you keep your energy up?
I think just maybe not so muchbefore a show.
I think you just want to bepresent.
Niki Sterner (14:41):
Do you go over your lines in your head?
What do you do?
Or do you just do?
You take a deep breath?
Simon Huebner (14:46):
I'll try to jot notes down If I get a chance
during the day.
That can be a little tough toplan, depending on a workload
and in case it's like the job Ijust mentioned, work does
absolutely come first.
I'm on the clock for a reason,but in that time when I'm off
the clock and before I'm goingout to shows, doing something
active also helps.
It could be a walk, any sort ofcalisthenic, the gym or
(15:10):
something.
Gym gets crowded.
See what you can do at home.
Or go off to a park orsomewhere.
I really like my bicycle.
I would not recommend riding italong some of these Atlanta
streets.
Yeah, and like we said, this isas much as the podcast is about
creativity.
It's also as important to havesomething that keeps you active,
something that's a way to vent,something that's a way to get
(15:33):
some aggression out because, say, there's some work stress.
I didn't think I was a happy,go lucky, positive person until
a bunch of people said that Iwas.
I typically for those who don'tknow me can be a very serious
person offstage.
I'll chat with you before ashow, just things like that.
But first thing I have to doreally is disarm the audience
(15:53):
because I'm really not asserious or uptight or as intense
as I look.
Niki Sterner (15:57):
That's true.
That's a good point.
Simon Huebner (15:59):
Whatever the opposite of golden retriever
energy is, that's me and Ipromise I'm not going to bite
anybody.
Niki Sterner (16:06):
Do you have that in your jokes?
Simon Huebner (16:08):
I've started saying that I think you should
Thanks For as long as I've beendoing this.
I would like to get better atthe editing part and I'm
realizing that you play backyour set.
Okay, here's the laugh, thenthe next one, then the next one.
And I think if somebody were toask me okay, if I were to put
(16:28):
myself out there asking for bookshows, longer sets, it's okay.
How long do I have to get theaudience on my side?
And then what's the quickestway I can get to this joke that
I know is funny?
Or to tag things up before Iget to something that's really
funny, or to play around withcertain details in this story,
because I'll start by writingout the details of a story, of
something that happened orsomething that I think is
significant, and then trying towork backwards.
(16:50):
Maybe there's something funnyin there, maybe it helps me
process something that helps memove on in a more, I guess, a
mentally healthier way.
Niki Sterner (16:59):
So who were you like 12 years ago or before this
?
Because I know you saidstand-up has changed who you are
from when you started to now.
Simon Huebner (17:09):
What does that look like?
Very good question.
I think I had gone from beingwork funny to do.
I really want to do this adozen years ago.
Niki Sterner (17:18):
Was there something that flipped like a
switch?
Did somebody ask you a question?
Was it at the therapist?
Simon Huebner (17:23):
No, I think just in conversation, whether it was
family, friends or people I knew, or just getting laughs at work
.
Okay, I have a really goodstory.
It's one of many of them andit's from a decade ago.
This is from.
I was out of town workingduring snowpocalypse and I
thought carmageddon was a bettername.
Niki Sterner (17:43):
Carmageddon.
Simon Huebner (17:44):
I thought that was so much better than
snowpocalypse.
So it's like I'm out of town,yeah, and I had been working up
north and I had been talkingwith you, have to make
conversation with all theseother people on a well-drilling
site.
I had to do my own computerstuff.
I had to get a log of rock data, gas data, that sort of thing,
(18:06):
but you have to end up chattingwith everybody else and that day
in Pennsylvania, in the middleof nowhere, you're going to have
to deal with everybody'sAtlanta jokes, or I had to.
Oh yeah, so I'm going to sayit's not that I was leveling the
room, but I had an answer Likeokay, none of y'all states are
anything special either, so I'vegot to have an answer for that.
(18:28):
And I think the other thing interms of comedy, like the itch,
had come back.
But I had to work.
I wasn't sure about thelogistics of doing that, and so
I tried it a while back, onceand then twice.
Twice was just so awful I sworeI was never, ever doing it
again, and so I remember it was2014.
It was Independence Day weekendand I was in Philadelphia, had
(18:51):
some time off and I checked outHelium Comedy.
Bouncer asked if I was going upI must have said something
funny.
I don't remember what I said,but he laughed.
So I was like, all right, Istill got it.
But I watched this open mic andthe first seven or so were
pretty good.
First seven were good but theyhad to be there for either work
or school or family stuff.
And then it's about 30 or soother comedians that I'm just
(19:13):
watching and there was one jokethat I remember.
I remember thinking, okay, Icould have done the disappointed
basement kid thing better thanyou guys did.
And I've actually read a fewbooks which shows I can talk
about something other thanmyself, and I'm like all right,
let me sit down, grab a notebookwhen I have downtime and I'm
just going to start scribblingthe things that I want to say so
I can fill up a five minute setonce this job is over with, and
(19:37):
it was over with soon enoughwithin less than a year.
So I just figured, all right,it's go time, which I try to
make it go time when I can.
Sometimes life happens,sometimes there's a work
situation or family stuff, orI've really got to take care of
a more important priority,because it's important to
remember that we get to docomedy.
(19:58):
We don't have to do it.
Niki Sterner (20:00):
When is your mic, Simon, that you host?
Simon Huebner (20:02):
Second and fourth Mondays of every month.
Niki Sterner (20:05):
And where is it at ?
Simon Huebner (20:06):
The Beer Growler in Brookhaven, and how's that
going?
It really surpassed all theexpectations that I would have
had.
One.
It's an unlockable area.
You have a lot of people goingto shops and restaurants nearby.
They can always pop in.
There's some regulars, there'sa regular amount of performers
and I'll try to go out andbranch out in a way that will
(20:28):
bring in performers that aremore than comedians.
Niki Sterner (20:32):
Like what.
Simon Huebner (20:33):
Musicians.
We've had some poets.
There's a friend of ours whomixes magic with comedy.
Niki Sterner (20:40):
I was going to ask if you invite clowns there too,
because I know that the clownscene in Atlanta is starting to
grow.
Simon Huebner (20:48):
I actually did go to a mic to do comedy.
I didn't realize there weregoing to be clowns at this venue
and I went up after them.
They were not in costume.
I did not know what I signed upfor.
All is to say, yes, I am downto clown, you're down to clown.
Okay, that's right, I am downto clown, you're down to clown.
Niki Sterner (21:03):
Okay, that's right .
Clowning is fun because itreally it's you falling in love
with the audience and wantingthem to love you back.
So it really I feel like ithelps that audience interaction
which we have with standup too,if we're brave enough to do
crowd work like you do.
So that's, I've been taking it,but you're doing it.
Simon Huebner (21:24):
Well, one thing that I've found is that my
thinking was I wanted to get mybits out there as they were, but
you really have to be willingto throw away whatever your plan
material was in order to dothat thing.
Because there are things whereI'm glad you brought that part
up, because the main key to itis you have to be willing to
(21:46):
throw away your preparedmaterial, break that fourth wall
to show that you are present.
Niki Sterner (21:50):
How do you do that ?
Simon Huebner (21:52):
I think from earlier.
It goes back to how do I reactwhen this happens.
It's about trying to anticipatewhat somebody else might say,
whether it's good, okay or badand if I have a bit that I've
tried or say I know the audienceisn't always listening I might
try to open with a rhetoricalquestion and give them a choice
(22:14):
and see who answers it.
Niki Sterner (22:16):
Oh, I like that.
Simon Huebner (22:18):
So, for example, I would say the bit that should
be my bread and butter is aboutscary movies versus Disney
movies, and the bit that I hadwas I'll bring up talking funny
a little bit If I stumble overmy words.
I'm like all right, shocker.
(22:38):
I saw a speech therapist wayback when while my classmates
were watching Disney movies,when while my classmates are
watching Disney movies.
But then I'll give the audiencea choice, because I saw these
scary movies in full, from startto finish, rather than these
Disney movies in parts that Ialso ended up seeing once.
I first got my Netflix accountand cut up, which is what I was
doing a dozen years ago.
I was working, but I was stilldoing this on the clock when I
(23:02):
could.
Niki Sterner (23:02):
Have you kept track?
So you've been doing this formore than 12 years.
Simon Huebner (23:05):
Oh no, that first couple of times was a dozen
years ago.
The first time where I said,all right, I don't have a lot of
stuff going on right now was adecade ago.
But life had happened a fewtimes.
Because I was trying to plan interms of my future Okay, how do
I plan for that?
The game had changed in comedyso much I didn't realize.
(23:31):
Okay, what would you do to be afull-time comedian?
That's still something I havestill yet to really figure out.
I know there's different waysto do that.
I know there's different waysfor me to find a voice and to
broadcast stuff online.
I also know that I said a goodbit of what I saw about my job.
There are things that I wouldlike to say, but I've also
second guessed myself in termsof all right, who's going to
find this?
Even if people at work knowsome of them actually found some
(23:52):
of the stuff that I had found,but I had already gotten along
with these folks just inchatting after fixing whichever
computer service they needed forthem to do their job.
Niki Sterner (24:02):
Simon, what would you say is your brand of comedy?
Simon Huebner (24:05):
So I try to stick with things that actually
happened within my life.
I try to stick with 100%authenticity, but I'll play
around with details.
But I'll check the news apponce or twice a day to see if
something funny I can getsomething funny out of that.
So whether it's my Google Newsapp or AP, I'll try to see
something like that If there'ssome new story.
(24:25):
That's.
I wish I had more time to lookup press conferences or
interviews on YouTube and thingsof that nature.
So it's not just hey, thishappened to me.
This will never be therapy.
I'll never ask an audience tosolve my problems for me.
It should be expected thatyou've done something about it
and I think a lot of people thatyou might see on stage.
They are clearly still in theprocess of working something out
(24:47):
and I'm being charitable.
Niki Sterner (24:49):
I created the Confidence Kickstart morning
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(25:10):
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(25:32):
clarity, courage and realmomentum.
So, as far as organizing yourjokes, do you have a method for
that?
Simon Huebner (25:41):
I think writing it down in a notebook helps with
retaining it, the information.
Niki Sterner (25:46):
So you like writing it and then do you say
it out loud a bunch of times,memorizing it, or do you just
have an idea?
Simon Huebner (25:52):
Most of the time it's an idea, and I guess the
trick is to work backwards tofigure out what's the quickest
way I can get there to the funnypart, yeah, yeah, or just, I
think, listening back to stuffand making notes from those.
I think that helps with theediting for what you want your
laughs per minute to be how manymics are you doing per week, or
(26:16):
does it just vary?
it varies.
I think, if I counted it out,there is more stage time to be
had, since everything returnedafter we all were supposed to
get our COVID shots.
No, I do think.
Okay, like I for one, I gotolder family members.
I did not want to return untilI got my shots, and then, later
(26:37):
on, when I passed that ITcertification exam, I think
there's more stage time to behad.
Now that's good.
The most I've done in one nightwas five, but I could say no,
that's too much.
The energy level was just notthere.
Niki Sterner (26:52):
How did you do that?
When was that?
Simon Huebner (26:54):
It was on a Wednesday, it was Farm Burger,
Smith's Mozzarella, Mike Pullman, Yards and El Dorado.
Niki Sterner (27:00):
Whoa.
Simon Huebner (27:03):
That was not that smart.
I just wanted to see if I coulddo that and set that high score
.
Typically during a week, ifeverything goes right, you could
do at least 10 or a dozen mics,maybe more.
But however, I have to balancethat with, I think, in terms of
work, I had to learn how topractice smart.
So if something happened, thatwas one I've got to be up early
(27:29):
and I've never been an earlybird.
I don't remember a time where Ireally was getting up early or
there could have been.
I don't share personal detailsabout other folks at work, but
some things that were going oncertain families while I was
teaching I'm like my stagepresence is going to go to ashes
(27:49):
.
So there's going to be timeswhere I'm like all right, just
go home, figure out anotherskill, do something else, go on
other adventures, do somethingelse to regroup and recharge.
It's not just learning how topractice smart, and what I mean
by that is trying to practiceone thing at a time, one bit at
a time.
I'll say this is who I am, orI'll say this is the bit that I
(28:11):
was thinking about.
Then I'll fall back on a bitthat I know worked, or something
like that if the first bitbombed.
Niki Sterner (28:18):
Okay.
Simon Huebner (28:18):
Or I think just knowing how to edit is, I think,
how you separate theheavyweights from the pretenders
.
That's how you separateheavyweights from just people
who are okay, and I couldcertainly get better at editing.
Niki Sterner (28:32):
So when do you do so?
If you work full-time workduring the day, when are you
creating your videos and writingyour comedy and stuff?
Just throughout, or at night?
Simon Huebner (28:42):
Okay, if I get a video, if I tape the video, I
can play that back.
I can have that one ready to goat a certain time.
Niki Sterner (28:50):
At night on the weekends.
Simon Huebner (28:52):
Or whenever I set the time to do.
That could be lunch break.
I could get better, but, like Isaid in my position, there's a
few things I felt like I've hadto watch a lot more lately than
usual, so there's been a lot ofsecond guessing lately, which is
wild to say, on a podcastcalled the Confident Shortcut.
Niki Sterner (29:11):
How do you move forward, even with second
guessing?
Simon Huebner (29:14):
Because, let's say, in any place people
performing, I think you have toknow that, hey, I belong up
there or I could do this In away that's not really.
Some people would feel that waywith dance Wonderful.
Some people might feel that waywith music or basketball or a
theater, musical things of thatnature.
(29:34):
But I think when it comes tolow overhead and you don't know
anything about me, and thentrying to grab the mic and do
something, comedy was it for meand improv could be that for
other folks.
And yeah, I've heard goodthings about being able to train
that other muscle in your brainas well.
Niki Sterner (29:51):
That's fantastic.
All right, we are going to hopinto the confidence quick fire
round now.
So this is five questions thatI ask everyone who comes on the
podcast, all right?
So the first one is, simon, canyou define confidence for me
and what that means to you?
Simon Huebner (30:06):
It's that belief that deep down, you're capable
of doing something, doing a goalwhich most of the time you've
set for yourself.
And it's a matter of not justthat but also how you act
towards others in how you'reaccomplishing that goal.
Because I think there's adifference between that belief,
mostly the quiet confidence, butmore a belief in yourself
(30:29):
versus hey, we get it, You'resmart.
That's the difference betweenreading and reading a room, in a
way.
Niki Sterner (30:36):
I love that.
Simon Huebner (30:37):
Okay.
Niki Sterner (30:37):
The second question is what's one bold move
you made before you felt ready?
Simon Huebner (30:43):
One bold move I made before I felt ready.
One bold move I made before Ifelt ready.
Niki Sterner (30:46):
Something you did.
Simon Huebner (30:46):
I'm going to think here.
Niki Sterner (30:48):
You just said it because you were like talking
about how you were secondguessing something, but yet you
told yourself no, I belong upthere, I belong up there with
them.
Simon Huebner (30:57):
I think in terms of you know what, just for that,
just because you said that I'mgoing to post a couple of those
clips that I had, I might haveto censor a couple of them.
I'll show them to a few friendsof mine.
I hope they pass it on to theirfriends and yeah, that's going
to be your bold move.
In the short term sure.
Niki Sterner (31:17):
Yeah.
Simon Huebner (31:17):
But I think I spent most of my 30s as a
special ed teacher withouthaving any sort of credential in
that whatsoever.
It's the guy who I was workingfor, whose forte was learning
disabilities.
I was between jobs and tutoringout of his office.
We found you could do yourclasses online and, yeah, that
ended up lasting really for mostof my 30s.
Niki Sterner (31:37):
Wow, yeah, thanks.
That's amazing.
So you were teaching and youdidn't have the credentials or
anything, you just felt calledto it.
Simon Huebner (31:46):
I had started tutoring and I think for what I
had set up it was like aone-room schoolhouse with
internet, so I would have asmall group around a table, move
around, help with manageabletasks, and I think, more than
anything, people just need agrown-up to listen to them.
Niki Sterner (32:03):
Oh, I love that.
Simon Huebner (32:04):
Thanks.
Niki Sterner (32:05):
Yeah.
So, simon, how do you quietyour inner critic?
Do you ever have that voice inyour head that's telling you
that you can't do something, orthat, anything like that,
anything negative in your head?
What do you do when you hearthat?
Simon Huebner (32:18):
I think it's about taking small steps, one at
a time.
So, like I said, I brought upan IT certification exam earlier
.
Frankly, I should probablyspend more time doing that than
I am at Mike's.
I should be studying for thisinstead of Mike's, I've
sometimes felt, but the test isso long I just had to break it
(32:39):
up into multiple parts, justsmall parts, one thing at a time
, one thing at a time, brick bybrick, like one thing that I
said many times out loud was allright, I am as Jewish as matzo
ball soup, but I can see whyCatholics cross themselves
Because it is a lot to remember.
So if you say that, like luck oranything like that, I escaped
(32:59):
being medicated like almostevery other 90s suburban kid did
.
But I think one of the reasonsthere's kind of a story my mom
had about that, but I thinkbasically it was like when my
dad read the side effects forsome of these drugs.
He basically said after takingone, look at the side effects.
(33:20):
I'd rather my kid have someinternal distractions than a
potential heart problem.
That's a cost benefit.
That's a risk reward analysis,but that's why I wasn't
medicated.
But the way that I was, I guess, brought up I think I would
hear people talk aboutmeditation and whatnot I'm like
that's the same thing.
It felt like the same way.
I had been shown to pray and Idon't remember what I would have
(33:43):
prayed for as a kid.
But I think if you stop andhesitate and do that sort of
thing for a second to take yourmind off something, do something
else for a little bit.
I think it helps with focus andhelps relax yeah.
Niki Sterner (33:58):
Okay, the next question is what's one habit
that's helped you build realconfidence?
Simon Huebner (34:03):
Okay, a habit that I had.
Niki Sterner (34:06):
Or that you have now that you love.
Simon Huebner (34:11):
I don't know if it's more of a habit, but more
of something I realized or a waythat I've tried to trick myself
, and that's no one's going toremember your screw-ups.
That's for you.
That's hard enough to remembermy own stuff and then what
everybody else did.
That's hard enough to remembermy own stuff and then what
everybody else did.
And even when I had this highschool reunion last year, it
really felt like a game ofchicken to see who might bring
up what.
But I think everybody's busytalking about their own selves
(34:32):
and what they've got going onand their families and things
like that.
It was nice.
No one brings up theembarrassing stuff.
So thank you, lakeside class of2004.
Now it's a very nice reunion,but I think no one's really
going to remember, as long as Ican be where I'm supposed to be,
(34:53):
try new stuff, like I did incomedy.
So the other things that Iwould have mentioned whether
it's things that happened in thepast, or trying to be
professional or in comedy thingswere not going well.
It was one of those times Ishould not have been going out
just because I'm not going tosay what happened with this one
family, but I went back to aclub which was relapse theater
and I figured okay, I'm going togo here, I'm going to try a new
(35:16):
three minute set every singleweek, hopefully it all hits.
But that's where I gotcomfortable saying okay, I'm
going to try something new everysingle time and hopefully it
hits.
But even if there's one.
But you want to have a placethat feels like your home
territory and that's the placewhere you feel most supported
and that gives you theconfidence to say I can try this
without worrying.
(35:36):
It's somebody who?
What would happen in the backof the room?
Who's going to be there?
Is there a booker there?
Is there somebody attractive inthe audience?
I had to trick myself that itdoesn't matter who would be in
the audience, because if youstart caring about this stuff,
you're going to think too much.
(35:58):
And yeah, there's multipledifferent ways where I would
have had to trick myself intosaying I'm going to do this
thing.
Niki Sterner (36:06):
I love that habit of going to the same place and
making yourself do three minutesof new stuff every week at a
home base type.
You felt comfortable.
I love that.
Simon Huebner (36:13):
Yeah, Because if you're watching a headliner or
somebody that you like and youwatch them build out a longer
set, that's where the editingcomes into play.
It's not just filling time.
Niki Sterner (36:27):
It's about listening back, Simon.
Our last question here I wantedto know if there was a favorite
book or resource or affirmationthat you say to yourself that
changed how you think.
Do you like to read books orlisten to podcasts or anything
that really stood out?
Simon Huebner (36:39):
Yeah, that's a good one.
I think one thing that got meover some just absolutely
crushing social anxiety so muchso that when I would catch up
with folks, they're like, wait,you're doing standup.
But there's this little voicein my head and when it came to a
conversation, I was like, allright, I might not be that
religious, but I had to tellmyself something that I heard
(37:01):
when I was a kid that whoeveryou I had to tell myself
something that I heard when Iwas a kid that whoever you're
talking to, that person's inGod's image, start acting like
it.
And that got me throughconversations that were anxiety
inducing, as well as the ones Idid not want to have.
And that's a way of thinkingthat, okay, we all belong here
without being better thananybody else or worse than
anybody else, and there's abouta dozen different ways to
(37:22):
express that idea, but that'sthe one that popped into my head
at a certain time.
Niki Sterner (37:27):
Absolutely love that.
The thinking that we all belonghere.
Yeah, yeah.
Simon Huebner (37:33):
Now, when it comes to the bits that I would
want to put on there online,there's ways of looking up
strategies when it comes to thethumbnails, when it comes to
what you want to be known forand I'm still trying to learn
that part, and it's been a whileIf somebody has done the work
on online sales and things likethat, would be something I
(37:55):
should be taking notes on sothat I can figure out.
Okay, what am I going torepresent when I get these clips
up?
Niki Sterner (38:01):
You mean, what is your brand of comedy?
Simon Huebner (38:04):
Yeah, for what we're doing is comedy.
But let's say I had a businessidea.
I think a lot of the same,whether it's a podcast, like you
have a business idea or astandup act or anything where
you're trying to say, hey, lookat me, I want to monetize this
thing.
That's the watching onlinesales, like Gary V's videos
(38:25):
didn't make sense on Insta to me.
When I saw the longer form, I'mlike, okay, this makes sense
now.
And there's other people whohave said, okay, this is how you
build a brand.
And so there comes a time where, if I use these things, I don't
have a sales background.
Let me try what they're saying.
Niki Sterner (38:41):
So do you think that's what's next for you,
Simon?
Simon Huebner (38:43):
That I don't have a sales background.
Let me try what they're saying.
So do you think that's what'snext for you?
Simon, that's hard to say interms of hammering out what I
wanted to say online because Ithought what would have come
next.
I, like I said, there's anadditional certification I would
like to get for the IT skills,if there's a business idea that
comes to me.
Yes, I'm still trying to figurethat part out.
When it comes to all these otherskills that a comedian would
(39:06):
have, when it comes to it can'tbe just standup.
I tried podcasting.
It's tough, the editing aloneand there's all these other
things that you would have tobroadcast it online.
And I guess I'm still trying tofigure out what is that thing
that would grab people'sattention, because I was not
thrilled the first time I lookedup autism, asperger, that sort
(39:29):
of thing and I think peoplemeant well, but they're all kind
of processing their own issues.
It's like how much do I leaninto this thing when I just have
to not let any sort ofdefinition or comment that would
have infantilized it, just haveto brush it away?
Niki Sterner (39:48):
I think you've done a great job of that of
really just representingyourself and not necessarily
what people say.
That is online, like you'resaying.
I think you're very authentic onstage and in person, and I want
to congratulate you on that,because that is a huge thing to
figure out, and it sounds likeyou've done a lot of writing,
you've done a lot of prayer,you've done a lot of mental work
(40:10):
as well, just to put yourselfon stage and figure it out,
because a lot of people figurethat out by taking action.
I think you figure out yourvoice by using it, by writing,
by being on stage, and for you,you've had the confidence to do
that.
You've taken action before youfelt ready.
I don't know if you ever feltstuck, but I don't feel like
(40:31):
you're stuck now.
I feel like you're moving anddoing stuff, and so I want to
congratulate you on that,because that is huge.
That's huge.
You're a very brave person and Ireally do enjoy time with you
and I'm so happy that you cameon today.
Thanks, yeah, and I really doenjoy time with you and I'm so
happy that you came on today.
Thanks, this is, yeah.
I'm so excited that you're here.
Thank you, simon, for beinghere.
Simon Huebner (40:46):
It was glad to be invited on.
Thank you so much.
And I think when I felt stuck,it's a matter of what you fill
your brain with.
So if you're not, if you'reonly able to feel like a one
trick pony, this is when I guessI realized one thing that sort
of snapped me out of it.
One last thing you rememberwhen Borders went out of
(41:06):
business and they had a goingout of business sale Okay, it's
probably 15 years ago, but I'mgetting different books that are
about less than $10.
And I was finishing up school,only had a couple of classes to
go, but I figured, okay, I'dtake one chapter of a book
because I got extra time, thenanother chapter of the next book
(41:26):
, extra time, and so on, andthat really was a game changer
in terms of the amount of topicsthat I was able to have,
because if you have differentinterests, you want to fill your
brain in a certain way withdifferent stuff, rather than
because so much of entertainmentis us being talked at, and I
think you have to have somethingin your head that says all
(41:47):
right, who died and made thisperson in charge?
Why is this person being lookedat as an expert when I know
that's not really true.
It all goes back to just beingactive in more than one way.
Niki Sterner (42:00):
Yeah, definitely so.
You're mentally active, you'relearning new things, new topics.
You're physically active,you're pushing your body so that
you have a way to get theenergy out if you're frustrated
from work or whatnot.
Yeah, and then mentally you'resaying prayers or you're
changing your thought patternsso that you can have that
(42:22):
positive outlook that we see inyou in life.
Simon Huebner (42:26):
I'm trying, but yeah, thank you.
Niki Sterner (42:27):
Yeah.
Simon Huebner (42:28):
I think Bravo, thank you.
Yeah, we've really got to payattention to how others feel
when they're leaving.
Niki Sterner (42:36):
When they're leaving.
Simon Huebner (42:38):
Yeah, I've never understood why grownups are like
I had a struggle.
This person should also, theyounger generation should also,
and you should want them to.
I guess the former teacher inme would say, okay, I really
don't want y'all feeling thesame way I felt.
Yeah, that just goes back toreading the room versus just
reading, and yeah, it's animportant skill to have, even
(43:00):
off stage.
Niki Sterner (43:01):
Yeah, amazing.
Thank you so much, simon.
Simon Huebner (43:03):
Thank you, Nikki.
Niki Sterner (43:05):
Thanks so much for listening to the Confident
Shortcut.
I hope today's episode wokesomething up in you, reminding
you that your dream matters andyou can start now.
If this sparked something,share it with a friend who needs
it too.
And don't forget to follow meon Instagram at Nikki Sterner
and join our Facebook communityat the Confident Shortcut.
Ready to take the next step?
Check out my free guide, theConfidence Kickstart, linked in
(43:27):
the show notes.
Keep showing up, keep takingaction, and remember the
shortcut to confidence iscourage.
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