June 26, 2025 • 18 mins
Cut The Tie Podcast with Thomas Helfrich
Episode 278
When burnout hit, Melissa Brandt didn’t just change jobs—she changed her entire life. In this laugh-out-loud yet deeply honest episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Melissa, a former corporate sales rep turned clean stand-up comedian, to talk about walking away from "what you're supposed to do" in favor of finding what truly lights you up.
Melissa opens up about how leaving the corporate hamster wheel—and taking a so-called “micro retirement”—led her to rediscover creativity, embrace imperfection, and build a new path rooted in authenticity. From haunted attics to honest punchlines, this episode is equal parts comedy and clarity.
About Melissa Brandt:
Melissa Brandt is a Grand Rapids-based stand-up comedian who brings laughter to audiences with a twist—she keeps it clean. After 15 years in the sales world, Melissa left behind burnout and unrealistic expectations to pursue her creative calling. With a background in performance and a passion for storytelling, she now uses comedy to connect, inspire, and remind us all that it’s okay to start over.
In this episode, Thomas and Melissa discuss:
- Micro-retirement and rediscovery
Melissa shares how stepping away from corporate life opened the door to creativity, family healing, and stand-up comedy. - Letting go of expectations
She talks about how cutting ties with what others expected helped her finally get honest about what she wanted. - What “clean comedy” actually solves
With few family-friendly comics in the market, Melissa fills a much-needed niche—and proves funny doesn’t have to be filthy. - The stand-up grind (and joy)
From her unforgettable first show to navigating the business of comedy, Melissa gives a candid look into the world behind the mic.
Key Takeaways:
- Stop caring so much about other people’s expectations
Your life is yours—live it honestly. - Burnout is a clue, not a failure
Feeling stuck might mean it’s time to make space for what you really want. - Your “aha” moment might come after one bad day too many
Trust it—and follow it. - You don’t have to sell your soul to be successful
Clean comedy proves that authenticity is the edge. - Creativity doesn’t need permission—it just needs space
Give yourself room to try, to fail, and to laugh through it.
Connect with Melissa Brandt:
🎤 Website: melissabrandtcomedy.com
📸 Instagram: @melissabrandtcomedy
📘 Facebook: Melissa Brandt Comedy
📺 YouTube: Melissa Brandt Comedy
Connect with Thomas Helfrich:
🐦 Twitter: @thelfrich
📘 Facebook: Cut The Tie Group
💼 LinkedIn: Thomas Helfrich
🌐 Website: cutthetie.com
📧 Email: t@instantlyrelevant.com
🚀 instantlyrelevant.com
Serious about LinkedIn Lead Generation? Stop Guessing what to do on LinkedIn and ignite revenue from relevance with Instantly Relevant Lead System
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Cut the Tide podcast.
Hi, I'm your host, ThomasHelfrich.
Today, we are joined by MelissaBrandt Melissa.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
I'm great.
How are you doing?
Speaker 1 (00:08):
I'm delicious.
Thank you for asking, Melissa.
Could you take a moment tointroduce yourself and what it
is you do?
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Absolutely.
My name is Melissa Brandt.
I am a stand-up comedian out ofGrand Rapids, michigan, and my
little shake or whatever is I'ma clean comedian and so that, I
think, is something that themarket really doesn't have a ton
of right now, and I'm excitedto sort of bring that water down
like filtered and, yeah,exactly, forget everything that
(00:43):
I just said.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
I don't know what I'm talking about.
I was listening, I I gave herthe light.
So during a comedy show, ifyou're listening to this, this
is gonna be a different kind ofshow, because I can already tell
you get a light, put a phone upthe back to let her know her
time's up, and so I was likeyou're going too long, and so
she was, I know I already knew.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Thank you for stopping me.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Oh my God, I'm keeping that in, and let me tell
you why Because you are in thebusiness of comedy and that was
just funny.
I was like alright, I know shefeels she's going too long, so I
was going to be like I was likewrap it up, what are you trying
to say?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
And I still don't know.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
You've got your three minutes.
You're the check comedian,which is the worst place to get.
You're the new guy because yougive them, you get your comedy
when they're doing their checksand no one's listening.
So that's the, I've heard.
That's the worst place.
All right, so you're a comedian, sure, and you're right,
there's not a lot of.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
You say sure, like kind of yeah, we'll see after
this podcast, and I'm in forreevaluate my life choices.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Listen, any good comedian is self-deprecating and
hates themselves.
It seems like so.
Uh, that is true, we do havethat in common.
The problem you solve right ofthere's not enough.
Clean comedy is a brilliant one, because if you look at nate uh
bargadzi I think it's how hepronounced his last name he like
74 million last year in cleancomedy.
Jerry seinfeld did a ton ofmoney on it.
(02:03):
Andrew guys clay is, I think,almost dead in vegas, not making
like a 500 a show and he hadsuper dirty comedy.
Right, the point is, if you cando it cleanly, it does work
better because it makes you moremarketable and you can do more
corporate gigs.
You can do more fun things.
If you're known as a pretty darkuh, I cannot pronounce his name
anthony, just like just now.
(02:23):
Like you know, I love his stuff.
Uh, it's dark, but it's notgonna you're not gonna see it on
mainstream anytime soon, right?
So, yeah, I, I love yourproblem you solve.
It's bigger, but that becomes adifferent kind of comedy.
So in your own journey, justtell me about it.
How did you get here and then,and then describe maybe the tie
that you needed to cut, so tospeak, to be okay.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely Well, I've always
liked being creative and I'vealways liked performing.
When I was young I was nevershy in front of crowds, so I've
always enjoyed that.
But I think for me I kind ofdid what was drilled into my
head to do, which was go tocollege, get a degree, get a job
(03:08):
and settle down and you know,bada bing, bada boom, and that
worked pretty well.
But then after a few differentsales jobs which wasn't even my
degree, but you know how thatgoes After about 15 years of
working different sales jobs, Igot like super burned out and I
was just feeling so creativelyunfulfilled and my family was
(03:32):
suffering.
I have two young kids and it wasjust getting to be too much for
our family.
And so I had to really take alook at what my preconceived
notions were of how my lifeshould look.
And you know, I micro-retiredfor a little bit, which is
actually something I talk aboutin my stand-up routine,
basically taking some time offjust to be at home with my
(03:53):
family, reflect on what I wantto do with my life, and yeah, it
was a really healing time.
And then I came back and I'm Icame out of micro retirement a
few weeks ago and I'm working ata school as a paraprofessional,
which is something I never in amillion years when I was in
corporate would have everthought I would enjoy that or
want to do that.
(04:14):
And now that sort of opens upmy schedule to pursue more
creative endeavors like standupcomedy.
And the way I got into thatspecifically is like a whole
nother story, but that's sort ofthe journey that led me to the
headspace that I had to be in tobecome a stand-up comedian,
because I think it is like areally specific thing to get
(04:35):
into and I think everyonearrives at it in totally
different, really unique ways.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
I love that and it sounds like the tie you had to
cut was acceptance just of whereyou were in your life and it
sounds like you're stillstruggling with it a bit of
where?
And I asked people thisquestion if you had $10 million
in the bank and you're making 5%a year on, it say $500,000 a
year, which means you can spendevery dollar that 500,000 never
touch a multi-generationalwealth, no debt what are you
(05:04):
going to be doing?
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Yeah, and I think it would be exactly what I'm doing
right now.
That's really cool to be ableto say yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
And so now, it's not about money, Right, it's about.
It's about the enjoyment ofthat experience that you're
doing for yourself.
And I and I point that one,like when I'm coaching people is
like if, if you're not headedtowards that focal point, you're
not going to ever.
You're going to be drawn backto that focal point because
that's where you want to go, andso I think that's fantastic
place for you as a basis to lookat along the way.
(05:34):
Now, do you remember a specificmoment that you could describe,
where you knew like that's it.
I'm not doing this corporateshit, I'm going to find where I
am right now.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Oh yeah, it was.
So what happened was I left myjob and it was really hard
because I really loved thatcompany and we're still like, I
still talk to them all the timeand the mission and everything
so much.
But then I thought maybe if Itake a job that's not as many
(06:13):
hours but it's still sales, thatI'll be happier.
And then I only workedsomewhere else for like a week
and I remember there was amoment where something was
happening that I just snappedand I was like I can't do this
anymore.
I can't be jumping to differentjobs that are so unfulfilling
and you know where I'm justmiserable, like there's got to
(06:34):
be more to life than this.
And so I, you know, didn't comewithout sacrifice, but figuring
out what you really want to doand where you want to be in life
, it's a hard thing to comeacross.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Yeah, it is, it is.
What advice would you give to?
I usually say to the listenersI want to ask it differently to
you.
What advice do you give to youryounger self?
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Meth is a hell of a drug.
No, just kidding, that's not it.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
More riddle.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Yeah, um, I think I would just sorry not every drug
is bad.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Some are great.
It's worth it.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Um no, I would tell myself that just to stop caring
so much about other people'sexpectations of what my life
should look like.
You know, your life is yourlife and I think, just as a
humanity, we need to be a littlemore accepting of different
journeys and different paths.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
I think it's also as you describe it.
It's like being honest withyourself of what's really going
on right, of the acceptance ofwhere you are in your life and
the in.
At some point you realize Ionly got one of these lives and
you're like, and you look back,am I really gonna have a regret
if I do something I try to go doin love and you know, and hurt
and I think you're getting therewith that.
(08:03):
If you could go, like you know,uh, to yourself on stage for
the first time, what do you dodifferent that first night?
Speaker 2 (08:14):
You know I was really lucky.
My very first show was like adream, like the audience was so
supportive.
I had memorized that stuff sowell, I was hitting all my marks
Like it was really.
I couldn't have asked for amore incredible first experience
.
I don't know if I would changeanything, and that's honestly
what keeps me going is I havesuch a special memory of that
(08:37):
that I have in my head everytime I go do another show and
I'm scared.
You know, you just have to comeback to why you love it, those
moments that just fill you withjoy and, um, yeah, it's just
been really incredible journeyall right, rapid fire question
are you ready?
Speaker 1 (08:53):
let's do it.
Who gives you inspiration?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
other stand-up comedians, seeing how much work
they put into their craft andthere's so much, you know I
think that there's amisconception.
Maybe in stand up comedy it's abunch of narcissists or
whatever, which don't get mewrong there are for sure and
maybe part of it is my area, Idon't know.
I really want to startbranching out to bigger markets
(09:19):
so that I can see, but so farwhat I've encountered is just
people genuinely wanting to makeother people laugh and willing
to put in the time and theeffort and the hard work, and I
just I'm just really proud ofthem there are narcissists there
, for sure, but I are the yes Iknow, I was just trying to be
nice.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
They're trying to make the primary um it's.
It's a tough business, right?
I mean, do you have like a Imean from a business standpoint
of comedy?
I don't know that business atall because it doesn't look like
it gets the people.
Looks like you make money, theones who put the shows on.
That's not looks like where themoney's at is.
Yeah, you take a show and Ibring comedy comics in.
(10:00):
You get 50 bucks to 100 bucks tobe there or something
ridiculous right and it, whichis fun for you, you're getting
paid to be there right as, aslong as you don't drink, your
your bar tab away.
But what's the business adviceyou've gotten?
That's been very valuable.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Uh, hold on, I wrote this one down.
I was really excited to tellyou, okay, best business advice,
business is business andChristmas is Christmas.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Could you pull that onion apart a little bit and let
me know what that means.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Sure, I think that that was just something a boss
told me at a marketing job onetime and it always stuck with me
because it's just a funnylittle rhyme, right.
But also I think there's timesin life where if you're really
pursuing your dream and tryingto chisel away at something and
you rub up against somebody thewrong way unless it's super
(10:56):
intentional and harmful peopleneed to understand we're all
just trying to find our way andyou snooze, you lose there.
That's number two businessadvice.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
You poop, you poop.
I don't know, it doesn't reallyrhyme Number lose there.
That's number two businessadvice you poop, you poop.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
I don't know, it doesn't really rhyme.
Number three there we go.
No, that should be number two.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
That should be number two, but it's really a number
three.
No one ever actually goesnumber two without a number
three.
Even if you have an explodingdiarrhea day, at the end of it a
little pee comes out Like it'sunstoppable.
You're not human unless youhave a pee with a poop, which is
a three well, there you go.
(11:36):
That was beautiful I think youshould probably talk about it.
It's impossible to have no toit.
Raise your hand.
If you've only ever pooped, noone will ever do it.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Your crowd work will be shitty oh my gosh, everyone
gives me the worst advice forthings to make my shtick.
That was one you just came upwith.
Other ones are all like reallygood one, you should always eat
a sandwich while you're up there.
Or like, oh.
The other one was like youshould burp and I'm like I'm
already overweight.
I don't need to add thesethings to my shtick to make me
(12:12):
more like.
That's not the part of me thatI'm trying to amp up here the
belching sandwich, holding pooptalking person.
That's not my shtick, so stop.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Oh my God, that's named Paul Vamos person.
That's not my shtick, so stop.
Oh my god, his name paul vamosboros.
Oh my god, hold on.
I'm gonna tell you I don't knowthat.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
I don't know that name.
Is that another stand-upcomedian?
Speaker 1 (12:27):
he is, and he was at the pod fest.
Um, uh, I can't think of hisname.
Anyway, he, um, he, uh, he camein and I go oh, I thought you
were a comic.
He's like why is that?
I was like well, it's becauseyou're late and latino.
He's like not my face, like no,no, you look normal.
(12:50):
He's like I'm gonna use thatlike you should.
Oh, my gosh, that's funny.
No, because you're late, you'relatino.
What else are you gonna do?
He's like it's true, I'm notreally mowing the yard.
I'm like my joke, which is whatmost people do with comedians.
To get my idea, I do believe,um, you will find ideas from
(13:12):
some people who, who, what works, but I think, like anything
else, um, let me ask the lastquestion and we'll get to the.
You know I bantering a littlebit.
Uh, do you have a favorite book?
Speaker 2 (13:21):
yes, I have several.
I love brené brown, just likeevery other middle-aged white
woman in america, um, but she isreally inspirational and
completely changed myperspective on so many things,
with being vulnerable and youknow the different types of
(13:43):
armor that we use to protectourselves and just understanding
sort of what other peopleexperience compared to what I
experienced, just having thatperspective, you know what I
mean and that's like was reallyhelpful for me.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
I think that's a.
I've never heard that author,so I think it's one I'm going to
look at as a as a white womanon it, and that was really
helpful for me.
I've never heard that author,so I think it's one I'm going to
have to look at.
As a white woman myself, I'mgoing to identify with them.
I will take a look at thatbecause it's not one I've ever
heard of and it's not a typicalanswer.
If there's a question I shouldhave asked you today.
Oh sorry, what were you saying?
Speaker 2 (14:17):
No, yeah, exactly.
Should have asked you today.
Oh sorry, what were you saying?
No, I was, yeah, exactly.
I mean, um, yeah, she has books, dare to lead, daring greatly.
So they're definitely for, youknow, business-minded person.
I guess you gotta have thatentrepreneurial minded person,
that's right.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
Well you're, you're on that journey of a different
kind.
So you're uh, you're, an artist, and that's a hard living.
Being an artist of any sortsinging, comedy, music, whatever
, or painting is a given gift bywhatever power you may call a
god or whatever.
It comes from from geneticdisposition.
(14:56):
Comes from from geneticdisposition.
It's not.
It can.
It'll be developed, but thereare, there are people who've
gotten, like you know, like ifyou're a pokemon, you got an
ability that's been attached toyour card already that you just
can't get otherwise and it's soundervalued typically in the
world and it makes no sense thatI feel like it's almost
strengths finders.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
That's another one, and that, what you just said,
reminded me of that.
If you really hone in on yourstrengths and figuring out what
that list is of things, thatthey're God given talents,
that's where you really find outhow to unlock your true
potential.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
I like that.
I'll write that one down.
The final question for you.
If there was a question Ishould have asked you, but I
didn't.
I missed it.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
I want you to ask me.
I want you to ask me, I wantyou to ask me.
I want you to ask me where I'mfilming at right now.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Alyssa, where are you filming right now?
Speaker 2 (15:49):
I'm in my aunt's haunted attic that literally to
get up here I had to follow atrail of dead flies and I also
fell going down the stairs andthey're wooden and I skidded up
my knee and I thought I broke mypinky toe and I dropped my
laptop and all my podcast stuffand my notebook and my poppy
(16:11):
root beer soda and that's theend of that story.
But I made it, I'm here.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
I'm wounded, but I made it and I'm here you and I
heard you carry too much shit atonce yeah and how much alcohol
would you have prior to comingup the stairs?
Speaker 2 (16:30):
what'd you say I should quit catching?
Speaker 1 (16:32):
how much alcohol did you have prior to going up those
stairs?
Speaker 2 (16:35):
none.
I had a poppy root beer that Iwas bringing up here.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
I told you that yeah, well, that was the problem you
didn't drink enough I guess Idon't know.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Yeah, I mean, I think that I really got distracted by
the.
The trail of dead flies in thehaunted vibe.
I think I think a ghost pushedme because it's a 75 year
old-old single woman's attic.
It's just, I mean, she's gotweird sheets from the 70s.
You know, I brought my phonecharger and I didn't have the
(17:07):
cube thinking maybe she has likean extension cord that'll have
those.
Absolutely not.
All of her extension cords arecovered in dust and they're from
1972.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Do you think that room was like an upside down
pineapple room at one point?
Speaker 2 (17:23):
Absolutely.
This is perfect for that.
There's a foyer, yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
It's like a red room.
It's the gray room.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Ask her that Right.
Have you read Fifty Shades ofGrey?
Oh yes, he probably has.
She had the same poster of likea calendar from 1995.
(17:51):
That was like a guy like nakedand just had like a washcloth
over his wiener, like that wason her wall for like 10 years.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Was it over?
Or was the wiener holding thething up itself?
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Oh I, don't know, I was just a little kid.
Oh man, okay, it definitely washolding it up.
These are the questions I'dhave.
I would go through it with herand when she starts getting
super uncomfortable or has a hotflash, you know you've hit home
.
It's great, melissa.
Thank you so much for being onthe show today.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Thank you for having me, I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
How can people get a hold of you?
Who?
Speaker 2 (18:21):
do you want to or not want to get a hold of?
I want everyone to get a holdof me to have me come perform
and hang out.
I love marketing for comediansas well, so you can check out my
website melissabrantcomedycom.
Melissabrantcomedy on Instagram.
Melissabrantcomedy on YouTube.
Melissabrantt Comedy onFacebook.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
Awesome.
Thank you, I appreciate youcoming on.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
You're welcome.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Thank you, and for everyone listening, everyone
listening and still all here.
Listen, go out there, cut a tieto something holding you back
and just go unleash the bestversion of yourself.
Thanks for listening.
Welcome to Cut the Tide podcast.
Hi, I'm your host, ThomasHelfrich.
Today, we are joined by MelissaBrandt Melissa.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
I'm great.
How are you doing?
Speaker 1 (00:08):
I'm delicious.
Thank you for asking, Melissa.
Could you take a moment tointroduce yourself and what it
is you do?
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Absolutely.
My name is Melissa Brandt.
I am a stand-up comedian out ofGrand Rapids, michigan, and my
little shake or whatever is I'ma clean comedian and so that, I
think, is something that themarket really doesn't have a ton
of right now, and I'm excitedto sort of bring that water down
like filtered and, yeah,exactly, forget everything that
(00:43):
I just said.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
I don't know what I'm talking about.
I was listening, I I gave herthe light.
So during a comedy show, ifyou're listening to this, this
is gonna be a different kind ofshow, because I can already tell
you get a light, put a phone upthe back to let her know her
time's up, and so I was likeyou're going too long, and so
she was, I know I already knew.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Thank you for stopping me.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Oh my God, I'm keeping that in, and let me tell
you why Because you are in thebusiness of comedy and that was
just funny.
I was like alright, I know shefeels she's going too long, so I
was going to be like I was likewrap it up, what are you trying
to say?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
And I still don't know.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
You've got your three minutes.
You're the check comedian,which is the worst place to get.
You're the new guy because yougive them, you get your comedy
when they're doing their checksand no one's listening.
So that's the, I've heard.
That's the worst place.
All right, so you're a comedian, sure, and you're right,
there's not a lot of.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
You say sure, like kind of yeah, we'll see after
this podcast, and I'm in forreevaluate my life choices.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Listen, any good comedian is self-deprecating and
hates themselves.
It seems like so.
Uh, that is true, we do havethat in common.
The problem you solve right ofthere's not enough.
Clean comedy is a brilliant one, because if you look at nate uh
bargadzi I think it's how hepronounced his last name he like
74 million last year in cleancomedy.
Jerry seinfeld did a ton ofmoney on it.
(02:03):
Andrew guys clay is, I think,almost dead in vegas, not making
like a 500 a show and he hadsuper dirty comedy.
Right, the point is, if you cando it cleanly, it does work
better because it makes you moremarketable and you can do more
corporate gigs.
You can do more fun things.
If you're known as a pretty darkuh, I cannot pronounce his name
anthony, just like just now.
(02:23):
Like you know, I love his stuff.
Uh, it's dark, but it's notgonna you're not gonna see it on
mainstream anytime soon, right?
So, yeah, I, I love yourproblem you solve.
It's bigger, but that becomes adifferent kind of comedy.
So in your own journey, justtell me about it.
How did you get here and then,and then describe maybe the tie
that you needed to cut, so tospeak, to be okay.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely Well, I've always
liked being creative and I'vealways liked performing.
When I was young I was nevershy in front of crowds, so I've
always enjoyed that.
But I think for me I kind ofdid what was drilled into my
head to do, which was go tocollege, get a degree, get a job
(03:08):
and settle down and you know,bada bing, bada boom, and that
worked pretty well.
But then after a few differentsales jobs which wasn't even my
degree, but you know how thatgoes After about 15 years of
working different sales jobs, Igot like super burned out and I
was just feeling so creativelyunfulfilled and my family was
(03:32):
suffering.
I have two young kids and it wasjust getting to be too much for
our family.
And so I had to really take alook at what my preconceived
notions were of how my lifeshould look.
And you know, I micro-retiredfor a little bit, which is
actually something I talk aboutin my stand-up routine,
basically taking some time offjust to be at home with my
(03:53):
family, reflect on what I wantto do with my life, and yeah, it
was a really healing time.
And then I came back and I'm Icame out of micro retirement a
few weeks ago and I'm working ata school as a paraprofessional,
which is something I never in amillion years when I was in
corporate would have everthought I would enjoy that or
want to do that.
(04:14):
And now that sort of opens upmy schedule to pursue more
creative endeavors like standupcomedy.
And the way I got into thatspecifically is like a whole
nother story, but that's sort ofthe journey that led me to the
headspace that I had to be in tobecome a stand-up comedian,
because I think it is like areally specific thing to get
(04:35):
into and I think everyonearrives at it in totally
different, really unique ways.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
I love that and it sounds like the tie you had to
cut was acceptance just of whereyou were in your life and it
sounds like you're stillstruggling with it a bit of
where?
And I asked people thisquestion if you had $10 million
in the bank and you're making 5%a year on, it say $500,000 a
year, which means you can spendevery dollar that 500,000 never
touch a multi-generationalwealth, no debt what are you
(05:04):
going to be doing?
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Yeah, and I think it would be exactly what I'm doing
right now.
That's really cool to be ableto say yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
And so now, it's not about money, Right, it's about.
It's about the enjoyment ofthat experience that you're
doing for yourself.
And I and I point that one,like when I'm coaching people is
like if, if you're not headedtowards that focal point, you're
not going to ever.
You're going to be drawn backto that focal point because
that's where you want to go, andso I think that's fantastic
place for you as a basis to lookat along the way.
(05:34):
Now, do you remember a specificmoment that you could describe,
where you knew like that's it.
I'm not doing this corporateshit, I'm going to find where I
am right now.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Oh yeah, it was.
So what happened was I left myjob and it was really hard
because I really loved thatcompany and we're still like, I
still talk to them all the timeand the mission and everything
so much.
But then I thought maybe if Itake a job that's not as many
(06:13):
hours but it's still sales, thatI'll be happier.
And then I only workedsomewhere else for like a week
and I remember there was amoment where something was
happening that I just snappedand I was like I can't do this
anymore.
I can't be jumping to differentjobs that are so unfulfilling
and you know where I'm justmiserable, like there's got to
(06:34):
be more to life than this.
And so I, you know, didn't comewithout sacrifice, but figuring
out what you really want to doand where you want to be in life
, it's a hard thing to comeacross.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Yeah, it is, it is.
What advice would you give to?
I usually say to the listenersI want to ask it differently to
you.
What advice do you give to youryounger self?
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Meth is a hell of a drug.
No, just kidding, that's not it.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
More riddle.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Yeah, um, I think I would just sorry not every drug
is bad.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Some are great.
It's worth it.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Um no, I would tell myself that just to stop caring
so much about other people'sexpectations of what my life
should look like.
You know, your life is yourlife and I think, just as a
humanity, we need to be a littlemore accepting of different
journeys and different paths.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
I think it's also as you describe it.
It's like being honest withyourself of what's really going
on right, of the acceptance ofwhere you are in your life and
the in.
At some point you realize Ionly got one of these lives and
you're like, and you look back,am I really gonna have a regret
if I do something I try to go doin love and you know, and hurt
and I think you're getting therewith that.
(08:03):
If you could go, like you know,uh, to yourself on stage for
the first time, what do you dodifferent that first night?
Speaker 2 (08:14):
You know I was really lucky.
My very first show was like adream, like the audience was so
supportive.
I had memorized that stuff sowell, I was hitting all my marks
Like it was really.
I couldn't have asked for amore incredible first experience
.
I don't know if I would changeanything, and that's honestly
what keeps me going is I havesuch a special memory of that
(08:37):
that I have in my head everytime I go do another show and
I'm scared.
You know, you just have to comeback to why you love it, those
moments that just fill you withjoy and, um, yeah, it's just
been really incredible journeyall right, rapid fire question
are you ready?
Speaker 1 (08:53):
let's do it.
Who gives you inspiration?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
other stand-up comedians, seeing how much work
they put into their craft andthere's so much, you know I
think that there's amisconception.
Maybe in stand up comedy it's abunch of narcissists or
whatever, which don't get mewrong there are for sure and
maybe part of it is my area, Idon't know.
I really want to startbranching out to bigger markets
(09:19):
so that I can see, but so farwhat I've encountered is just
people genuinely wanting to makeother people laugh and willing
to put in the time and theeffort and the hard work, and I
just I'm just really proud ofthem there are narcissists there
, for sure, but I are the yes Iknow, I was just trying to be
nice.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
They're trying to make the primary um it's.
It's a tough business, right?
I mean, do you have like a Imean from a business standpoint
of comedy?
I don't know that business atall because it doesn't look like
it gets the people.
Looks like you make money, theones who put the shows on.
That's not looks like where themoney's at is.
Yeah, you take a show and Ibring comedy comics in.
(10:00):
You get 50 bucks to 100 bucks tobe there or something
ridiculous right and it, whichis fun for you, you're getting
paid to be there right as, aslong as you don't drink, your
your bar tab away.
But what's the business adviceyou've gotten?
That's been very valuable.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Uh, hold on, I wrote this one down.
I was really excited to tellyou, okay, best business advice,
business is business andChristmas is Christmas.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Could you pull that onion apart a little bit and let
me know what that means.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Sure, I think that that was just something a boss
told me at a marketing job onetime and it always stuck with me
because it's just a funnylittle rhyme, right.
But also I think there's timesin life where if you're really
pursuing your dream and tryingto chisel away at something and
you rub up against somebody thewrong way unless it's super
(10:56):
intentional and harmful peopleneed to understand we're all
just trying to find our way andyou snooze, you lose there.
That's number two businessadvice.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
You poop, you poop.
I don't know, it doesn't reallyrhyme Number lose there.
That's number two businessadvice you poop, you poop.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
I don't know, it doesn't really rhyme.
Number three there we go.
No, that should be number two.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
That should be number two, but it's really a number
three.
No one ever actually goesnumber two without a number
three.
Even if you have an explodingdiarrhea day, at the end of it a
little pee comes out Like it'sunstoppable.
You're not human unless youhave a pee with a poop, which is
a three well, there you go.
(11:36):
That was beautiful I think youshould probably talk about it.
It's impossible to have no toit.
Raise your hand.
If you've only ever pooped, noone will ever do it.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Your crowd work will be shitty oh my gosh, everyone
gives me the worst advice forthings to make my shtick.
That was one you just came upwith.
Other ones are all like reallygood one, you should always eat
a sandwich while you're up there.
Or like, oh.
The other one was like youshould burp and I'm like I'm
already overweight.
I don't need to add thesethings to my shtick to make me
(12:12):
more like.
That's not the part of me thatI'm trying to amp up here the
belching sandwich, holding pooptalking person.
That's not my shtick, so stop.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Oh my God, that's named Paul Vamos person.
That's not my shtick, so stop.
Oh my god, his name paul vamosboros.
Oh my god, hold on.
I'm gonna tell you I don't knowthat.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
I don't know that name.
Is that another stand-upcomedian?
Speaker 1 (12:27):
he is, and he was at the pod fest.
Um, uh, I can't think of hisname.
Anyway, he, um, he, uh, he camein and I go oh, I thought you
were a comic.
He's like why is that?
I was like well, it's becauseyou're late and latino.
He's like not my face, like no,no, you look normal.
(12:50):
He's like I'm gonna use thatlike you should.
Oh, my gosh, that's funny.
No, because you're late, you'relatino.
What else are you gonna do?
He's like it's true, I'm notreally mowing the yard.
I'm like my joke, which is whatmost people do with comedians.
To get my idea, I do believe,um, you will find ideas from
(13:12):
some people who, who, what works, but I think, like anything
else, um, let me ask the lastquestion and we'll get to the.
You know I bantering a littlebit.
Uh, do you have a favorite book?
Speaker 2 (13:21):
yes, I have several.
I love brené brown, just likeevery other middle-aged white
woman in america, um, but she isreally inspirational and
completely changed myperspective on so many things,
with being vulnerable and youknow the different types of
(13:43):
armor that we use to protectourselves and just understanding
sort of what other peopleexperience compared to what I
experienced, just having thatperspective, you know what I
mean and that's like was reallyhelpful for me.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
I think that's a.
I've never heard that author,so I think it's one I'm going to
look at as a as a white womanon it, and that was really
helpful for me.
I've never heard that author,so I think it's one I'm going to
have to look at.
As a white woman myself, I'mgoing to identify with them.
I will take a look at thatbecause it's not one I've ever
heard of and it's not a typicalanswer.
If there's a question I shouldhave asked you today.
Oh sorry, what were you saying?
Speaker 2 (14:17):
No, yeah, exactly.
Should have asked you today.
Oh sorry, what were you saying?
No, I was, yeah, exactly.
I mean, um, yeah, she has books, dare to lead, daring greatly.
So they're definitely for, youknow, business-minded person.
I guess you gotta have thatentrepreneurial minded person,
that's right.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
Well you're, you're on that journey of a different
kind.
So you're uh, you're, an artist, and that's a hard living.
Being an artist of any sortsinging, comedy, music, whatever
, or painting is a given gift bywhatever power you may call a
god or whatever.
It comes from from geneticdisposition.
(14:56):
Comes from from geneticdisposition.
It's not.
It can.
It'll be developed, but thereare, there are people who've
gotten, like you know, like ifyou're a pokemon, you got an
ability that's been attached toyour card already that you just
can't get otherwise and it's soundervalued typically in the
world and it makes no sense thatI feel like it's almost
strengths finders.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
That's another one, and that, what you just said,
reminded me of that.
If you really hone in on yourstrengths and figuring out what
that list is of things, thatthey're God given talents,
that's where you really find outhow to unlock your true
potential.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
I like that.
I'll write that one down.
The final question for you.
If there was a question Ishould have asked you, but I
didn't.
I missed it.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
I want you to ask me.
I want you to ask me, I wantyou to ask me.
I want you to ask me where I'mfilming at right now.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Alyssa, where are you filming right now?
Speaker 2 (15:49):
I'm in my aunt's haunted attic that literally to
get up here I had to follow atrail of dead flies and I also
fell going down the stairs andthey're wooden and I skidded up
my knee and I thought I broke mypinky toe and I dropped my
laptop and all my podcast stuffand my notebook and my poppy
(16:11):
root beer soda and that's theend of that story.
But I made it, I'm here.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
I'm wounded, but I made it and I'm here you and I
heard you carry too much shit atonce yeah and how much alcohol
would you have prior to comingup the stairs?
Speaker 2 (16:30):
what'd you say I should quit catching?
Speaker 1 (16:32):
how much alcohol did you have prior to going up those
stairs?
Speaker 2 (16:35):
none.
I had a poppy root beer that Iwas bringing up here.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
I told you that yeah, well, that was the problem you
didn't drink enough I guess Idon't know.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Yeah, I mean, I think that I really got distracted by
the.
The trail of dead flies in thehaunted vibe.
I think I think a ghost pushedme because it's a 75 year
old-old single woman's attic.
It's just, I mean, she's gotweird sheets from the 70s.
You know, I brought my phonecharger and I didn't have the
(17:07):
cube thinking maybe she has likean extension cord that'll have
those.
Absolutely not.
All of her extension cords arecovered in dust and they're from
1972.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Do you think that room was like an upside down
pineapple room at one point?
Speaker 2 (17:23):
Absolutely.
This is perfect for that.
There's a foyer, yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
It's like a red room.
It's the gray room.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Ask her that Right.
Have you read Fifty Shades ofGrey?
Oh yes, he probably has.
She had the same poster of likea calendar from 1995.
(17:51):
That was like a guy like nakedand just had like a washcloth
over his wiener, like that wason her wall for like 10 years.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Was it over?
Or was the wiener holding thething up itself?
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Oh I, don't know, I was just a little kid.
Oh man, okay, it definitely washolding it up.
These are the questions I'dhave.
I would go through it with herand when she starts getting
super uncomfortable or has a hotflash, you know you've hit home
.
It's great, melissa.
Thank you so much for being onthe show today.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Thank you for having me, I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
How can people get a hold of you?
Who?
Speaker 2 (18:21):
do you want to or not want to get a hold of?
I want everyone to get a holdof me to have me come perform
and hang out.
I love marketing for comediansas well, so you can check out my
website melissabrantcomedycom.
Melissabrantcomedy on Instagram.
Melissabrantcomedy on YouTube.
Melissabrantt Comedy onFacebook.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
Awesome.
Thank you, I appreciate youcoming on.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
You're welcome.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Thank you, and for everyone listening, everyone
listening and still all here.
Listen, go out there, cut a tieto something holding you back
and just go unleash the bestversion of yourself.
Thanks for listening.
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