Punchlines with Purpose: Gabby Bonesso on Mental Health and Comedy

Gabby Bonesso takes us behind the scenes of her innovative approach to storytelling, using comedy to create fresh, engaging content. Her ability to craft compelling narratives keeps audiences captivated and proves that great storytelling is a powerful part of innovation.

Transcript

(0:00) Welcome to the Tomorrow's World Today podcast. (0:04) We sit down with experts, world-changing innovators, creators, (0:08) and makers to explore how they're taking action to make tomorrow's world (0:12) a better place for technology, science, innovation, sustainability, (0:16) the arts, and more. (0:18) In this episode, George Davison, who is also the host of Tomorrow's World Today (0:22) on the Science Channel, talks with comedian and mental health speaker (0:26) about her journey with mental health, comedy, and motivational speaking.
(0:31) Gabby explains how comedy is more than punchlines. (0:34) It's about connecting, encouraging, and changing lives. (0:38) Gabby, could you say hello to everybody? (0:41) Hi, everybody.
Thanks for having me. (0:43) You bet. Gabby has a unique background.
(0:47) She is an award-winning stand-up comedian and a motivational speaker. (0:52) What kind of audiences do you usually talk to, Gabby? (0:57) Honestly, I always say I work from pre-K to AARP. (1:02) Everybody needs comedy.
Everybody needs a positive message. (1:06) Everybody needs to be reminded they're not alone, (1:09) and that life is hard, but it's also so much fun. (1:12) I just try to put that energy into everything that I do.
(1:16) That's great. I'm a big believer in that. (1:18) If you're an inspired person, you can create all sorts of stuff.
(1:23) When we keep ourselves in that kind of mode, (1:26) things seem to come along a little easier, I think. (1:28) Exactly, exactly. (1:30) How about this? Can you tell us a little bit about yourself (1:35) and your journey to get to where you are? (1:38) You wear a lot of hats.
(1:40) Can you just give us a little background, please? (1:43) Sure. My name is Gabby Vanessa, and I started my life (1:46) in the suburbs outside of Pittsburgh. (1:48) I was a very energetic, wild kid.
(1:54) I wasn't bad. I was a very role-following. (1:57) I had very quirky.
(1:59) I was really into Katharine Hepburn and the MGM Golden Years, (2:04) and I would just talk about that to anyone who would listen. (2:07) But when I started college, my father got very sick with cancer, (2:11) and that process, I think, prompted a lot of mental health stuff with me, (2:16) and it started this journey where I was getting diagnoses. (2:19) I was told I had bipolar disorder, (2:22) and at that same time, I was performing theater (2:24) and being encouraged to do stand-up comedy.
(2:27) So I started doing stand-up comedy, (2:29) and my comedy is centered in mental health and grief (2:32) because my father had passed away. (2:34) And right away, comedy bookers are like, (2:37) nah, we don't like those kind of topics. (2:38) And I'm like, but this is my life.
(2:41) And through that, people would hear me talking openly about mental health, (2:44) and they're like, hey, why don't you come talk about that and still be funny? (2:47) And that's sort of how that channel opened up. (2:49) But I continued to do stand-up and travel to New York and do things. (2:53) So I was winning awards here in Pittsburgh.
(2:56) During that time, my mother got sick, (2:58) and I wanted to be her full-time caregiver. (3:00) And during that time, I developed a daytime program (3:03) called The Josh and Gab Show, (3:05) where we're an assembly program, and we go into schools, (3:08) and we encourage kids to love themselves, love their school, and be kind. (3:12) It's pretty basic, but it's really fun and high-energy and vaudeville-esque.
(3:17) It's a lot of live music, original music that we've written, (3:20) live stories that are true to me, (3:23) and a lot of interaction with the kiddos. (3:25) And so I started that while my mother was sick, (3:28) and then she passed away. (3:30) And that's been a whole other journey (3:32) of focusing more on the mental health speaking.
(3:35) So I've been doing that a ton. (3:37) I was lucky to be on a list with the Dalai Lama (3:40) as one of the top 100 resilient speakers in the world (3:43) by a clinic out in San Francisco. (3:46) Just really interesting stuff.
(3:47) So during the pandemic, my mental health career started taking off, (3:51) and I also found a new therapist who started treating me for trauma. (3:56) And through that, we discovered that I didn't have bipolar disorder (4:00) and that I have ADHD and I'm on the spectrum. (4:03) And the trauma therapy and the proper diagnoses (4:07) has just changed my life.
(4:08) I go to therapy once a month, (4:10) and I'm writing a book with my therapist currently. (4:13) So that's where we are. (4:14) And I just launched a life coaching business, too.
(4:17) I took a course to become a trauma-informed life coach. (4:20) So that's a lot. (4:21) I can understand that.
(4:24) Well, you know what, though? (4:25) It's interesting because how all innovations, inventions, (4:31) creations in most places, it starts with your ability (4:36) to do an observation of something. (4:38) And it sounds to me like you found a niche. (4:41) And that's what all, like, a lot of innovations start (4:44) in this, like, discovery and niche of something.
(4:47) So are you, in your comedy work, (4:50) are there a lot of people that do your kind of work, (4:53) or are you a very unique bird in that space? (4:56) Yeah, very unique because, see, at the end of the day, (4:59) I think, you know, a typical comedian, it's for the laugh. (5:02) And I'm now at a point where, like, no, no, no, no. (5:04) It's about, like, I want this whole audience (5:07) to feel safe with me, and how am I going to achieve that? (5:11) Yes, I want them to laugh, but I also don't want them, (5:13) it's not at their expense.
(5:14) I'm never going to punch down. (5:17) It's a real, you have to be very delicate, too. (5:19) I know a lot of comedians will talk about mental health (5:22) in a comedy club, and it can be very triggering.
(5:24) Like, it would not do well at a conference. (5:27) Like, there is a very different tone you must have (5:30) when you are speaking to people within that community. (5:32) And, yeah, it's a very, I am very lucky because, (5:36) in that sense where, you know, a lot of these conferences, (5:39) they want that humor.
(5:40) So they're like, hey, we can bring you in. (5:42) You can tell these real stories of your mental health, (5:45) but you can still be funny. (5:46) So, yeah, that is, like, a nice little thing (5:48) that I have going for me.
(5:49) I think you're an innovator, personally. (5:51) Thank you. (5:51) And you've been very successful at what you're doing.
(5:54) You know, this innovative approach that you've taken, (5:57) is it, so you're getting people to laugh, (6:00) and are we also getting some therapy from that? (6:03) Is there, like, is there an innovative approach (6:06) to give people a better health? (6:08) I think so, because every time I just share, (6:11) like, even the smallest truth that I don't think is a big deal, (6:14) I'm just saying it because I'm telling you my story. (6:17) I can't even begin to tell you the amount of people (6:18) who will come up to me and just be like, that is me. (6:21) They will whisper their diagnoses to me.
(6:23) They will tell me that, like, they ask me questions, (6:26) like how they should follow up with a therapist, (6:27) what type of therapist. (6:28) I do anything I can in my power to guide people (6:31) to where they need to be. (6:32) That's what I think, it's so much more community building (6:35) when you do it this way.
(6:36) You know, I'm not, there is no slight to just being funny. (6:39) I think that is a beautiful skill, (6:41) and God bless everyone who does that. (6:42) I knew early on that wasn't for me.
(6:44) I remember being a comedian and thinking of the movie (6:47) A Beautiful Mind, and I remember him being like, (6:50) I love math, but I'm creating a new math. (6:52) Like, I'm not, I don't want the math that it's been. (6:54) I want a new math, and that's how I felt (6:56) when I started doing stand-up.
(6:57) I was like, no, no, no, there has to be a way (6:59) where I can be real, I can change people's lives, (7:02) and be funny. (7:03) Like, it doesn't have to be just funny. (7:05) I don't know, there's always a depth in there for me, (7:08) and I think it's that depth that connects to people.
(7:10) So when you're doing that, not when you're on screen work, (7:14) or when you're up on stage, but are you thinking through (7:18) how am I going to take my act to the next level? (7:22) Like, is there research and development in your thinking? (7:25) And do you take time to do that? (7:27) You know, that's funny. (7:28) I mean, it's so wild, because now that I know my brain, (7:32) like, I didn't know how my brain functioned. (7:34) I used to beat myself up for how my brain functioned, (7:36) and now that I know how fast my brain is working rapidly, (7:39) and I am doing that, because every gig is, (7:42) oh, so this is what they like about me.
(7:44) Like, I have built such confidence (7:47) in these after-show conversations of, (7:49) oh my God, all I have to do is just be authentic, (7:52) and I got this. (7:53) So like, in the old days, before a gig, (7:55) I'd be, you know, sick to my stomach, going over everything. (7:58) I mean, just going over my material over and over, (8:00) and now I do not, because I know if I'm not grounded, (8:04) if I don't do like a meditation practice, (8:06) I'm not grounded in the moment, I can't see my audience, (8:09) therefore I can't connect to them.
(8:10) I mean, it's for them. (8:12) I also take that approach. (8:13) I've stopped being a selfish artist, (8:15) and I'm sort of like, no, no, I'm here to entertain.
(8:17) I'm here to get you to think. (8:18) So let's meet you. (8:19) You're my audience.
(8:20) I want to connect with you. (8:21) And that's really, really helped me. (8:23) So two good points.
(8:25) I mean, that's, so you're doing live testing on an audience, right? (8:30) I mean, in the field of innovation, (8:31) you do have to do your testing beautifully, (8:34) because you get to do your test, (8:36) and then you get to feel the impact of that test. (8:40) And if it doesn't work, you adjust and go in a different direction, right? (8:43) Exactly. (8:44) So really, it's like a, it's good use of observational skills, (8:48) innovative thinking, and practice until you get it right.
(8:53) That's wonderful. (8:54) And then are you able to come in with a certain format that is repeatable, (8:59) so you kind of know, so if somebody's booking you, (9:03) that they kind of already know in advance that you're going to go in that (9:06) direction, so you're a safe hire for that direction? (9:10) Yeah, that's a great question. (9:12) I will say this is one of my assets.
(9:13) So with the mental health speaking and with Josh and Gab, (9:17) I like to say that I will make it unique for the client. (9:20) So if it's a mental health speaking event, (9:23) and let's say it's a trauma-informed conference, (9:25) I will say I will stick to just trauma-informed conversation, (9:30) my stories of trauma. (9:31) If it's something else, we focus on neurodivergence, autism, (9:34) I will tell my true stories of what it's been like living this whole time, (9:38) not knowing.
(9:39) Just all of that, you know, so I can gear it. (9:42) And then with our Josh and Gab shows, (9:43) like every school has their own positive behavior format. (9:47) They all have their own mascot, they all have their own vibe.
(9:49) And so we create the show to be that for that school. (9:53) So we'll create an original song for your school that is from us to you, (9:58) and then we leave. (9:59) You know, it's something I love to do.
(10:01) It's almost like being a Hallmark card writer for each person specifically. (10:05) It's great. (10:05) Yeah.
(10:06) You know what you mentioned earlier too, that you had to transition. (10:09) You went from creating what you wanted to create, (10:12) because you thought that's what you wanted to create, (10:14) to saying, no, I have an audience and I want to serve that audience. (10:18) And that forces a different way of thinking, doesn't it? (10:22) If you put your audience first, (10:24) it lets you create a better product, doesn't it? (10:28) Exactly.
Yes. (10:29) And I truly feel I learned that back in my twenties, (10:33) I got a gig with American Eagle. (10:34) They hired me to host all their videos.
(10:36) They hired me to write the video ads. (10:39) I did live performances. (10:41) And having like a corporate client that I had to stick to their, (10:45) I had to write jokes about their products and then talk to the CEO and have him (10:51) decide if they were funny or not over speaker phone.
(10:53) Like that truly made me the best writer that I could be. (10:56) Like I credit that experience with me learning how to write for each client. (11:01) That's wonderful.
(11:02) You know, (11:03) that's one of the things about innovation too, (11:05) is that storytelling is such a huge piece of it. (11:09) And so could you kind of just dream it out with me for a minute? (11:12) Like if you were going to compose a story that you were going to bring out on (11:17) stage, (11:18) do you have a process that you go through to get your mind into that kind of (11:22) comedy? (11:24) You know, are you writing? (11:25) Are you talking out loud to yourself? (11:28) Do you have somebody else that you talk to out loud with? (11:30) How do you do that? (11:32) I love this. (11:32) You're the best interviewer ever, George.
(11:34) Okay. (11:35) So back when my mother was alive, (11:36) she was truly my audience. (11:38) I, (11:38) every new idea I presented it to her in our own one-on-one open mic style.
(11:44) And she was just such a gift from God. (11:45) I loved my mother, (11:46) the best person in the world. (11:47) Now I do do it often on my own, (11:49) or if it's like, (11:50) especially comedy, (11:51) that's when you can kind of get into conversation with like a friend and be (11:54) like, oh yeah, (11:55) this happened to me.
(11:56) And if they're cracking up, (11:56) I'm like, good joke. (11:58) So, (11:58) yeah, (11:59) I mean, (11:59) I do work it in that way, (12:00) but one thing that I think is kind of interesting, (12:02) especially working with kids is so from the very, (12:05) this is my 13th season with Josh, (12:07) we've gone into schools for 13 years now. (12:10) And the very first year I told a story and it's a true story about a time (12:14) where a girl in my class brought in glue sticks for everyone except me.
(12:18) And it really messed me up as a little kid because like, (12:21) I didn't like my classmates. (12:23) Nobody stuck up for me. (12:24) Like, (12:24) I just remember that whole first grade year, (12:26) not really having any friends and being isolated.
(12:28) And so I tell the story in a funny way, (12:30) but throughout the 13 years, (12:32) that story has changed because kids change. (12:35) And I've learned to read kids better. (12:37) The version of the story now is so funny.
(12:40) It's so youthful. (12:41) It's so gear like it, (12:43) but it took 13 years almost to get it to be perfect. (12:46) So like, (12:46) I don't know.
(12:47) Come on. (12:48) You got me hooked. (12:49) I want to hear this glue stick story.
(12:51) Oh my God. (12:51) It's a long story. (12:52) It's like, (12:52) it's honestly like an eight minute chunk.
(12:54) I mean, (12:54) it is a full blown live comedy performance for kids where I'm imitating my (12:59) mother. (12:59) And she's a, (13:00) you know, (13:01) dino mom who doesn't let me have glue sticks. (13:03) And she's growling at me, (13:05) a giant Eagle.
(13:05) And I'm begging her for glue sticks. (13:07) And then finally this girl's bringing them in. (13:09) I'm so excited, (13:10) but I'm the kid who doesn't know how to use a glue stick.
(13:13) So I like kiss it and name it, (13:15) Brian and dance with it. (13:16) And all the kids are like, (13:17) what is wrong with gab? (13:18) So then when the girl steals it back from me, (13:20) no one looks out for me. (13:21) And the teacher sends me to the nurse and I'm just sobbing.
(13:24) And then the nurse sends me home and dino mom's like, (13:27) you weren't supposed to have a glue stack. (13:29) And it's the worst day ever. (13:30) And then all the little kids were like, (13:32) Gabby, (13:32) I would have given you my glue stick, (13:34) you know, (13:34) and it's just like this beautiful moment.
(13:36) and then I returned to the school and they all have glue sticks for me. (13:39) It's like, (13:40) it's yeah, (13:41) it's big. (13:41) It's becomes very emotional.
(13:43) It like my inner child heals every show. (13:45) It's wild. (13:46) That's great.
(13:47) You know, (13:47) cause that just seeing also how you just talked about it, (13:51) you know, (13:51) that's storytelling as well. (13:52) And I was just loving how, (13:55) you know, (13:55) you were, (13:56) you were so absorbed in telling that story that you absorbed me as your (14:00) audience. (14:01) And I think that's really an important, (14:04) you know, (14:04) people need to learn there's a, (14:06) that's a skill.
(14:07) And so it's great to see you into your work so much cause it really comes (14:11) out. (14:12) Thank you. (14:12) That means a lot.
(14:13) I really commit, (14:14) you know what I mean? (14:14) Like, (14:15) I think that I, (14:15) Josh and I will be performing at like 9am for, (14:18) you know, (14:19) kindergarten to second grade. (14:20) And he's doing like a back bend guitar solo and I'm giving it my all in (14:25) these monologues. (14:25) And I'm like, (14:26) wow.
(14:26) Like, (14:26) I love that. (14:27) Like, (14:27) I love that. (14:28) Like we value people, (14:30) like whether you're five or 50, (14:32) like you matter to us, (14:33) here's your show.
(14:34) You know, (14:35) that is fabulous. (14:36) And I, (14:37) I'm going to focus on that word commit, (14:39) because I think that is part of the secret to the science of creating (14:43) something for any audience. (14:45) It doesn't matter if it's an audience buying a product off the shelf at (14:49) giant Eagle or Walmart, (14:51) or if it's a service that somebody it's, (14:54) you have to commit.
(14:56) And if you're going to tell the story, (14:57) you can't half tell a story. (15:00) Exactly. (15:00) Yeah.
(15:01) You better believe in what you're doing or it's not going to come out. (15:03) Right. (15:05) So what inspires you, (15:07) Gabby? (15:08) That's so funny.
(15:09) I, (15:09) you know, (15:10) honestly of the last four and a half years, (15:13) my biggest inspiration is my little God son. (15:16) His name's Oscar. (15:17) This is all like most of this art is his behind me.
(15:19) Not this one. (15:20) This was from a high school kid, (15:21) but he's just not sound corny, (15:24) but it's like that Jerry Maguire line. (15:26) Like he literally makes me want to be a better person.
(15:28) Like I, (15:29) I always want to be that person for Oscar that he's like, (15:32) that's my God mom. (15:33) And not because I'm on stage and not because I could be in the paper on TV. (15:37) None of that.
(15:37) Like, (15:38) I just want him to like have the tools to have the best healthiest life (15:42) possible. (15:43) And I want to be that for him. (15:45) That makes sense.
(15:46) I, (15:47) I don't, (15:48) I don't. (15:48) Do you think you could have become what you are today without difficulty? (15:52) No, (15:53) let me tell you right now, (15:54) George Gabby Vanessa 1.0 before the reboot, (15:57) I was a very like, (15:58) um, (15:59) because I hadn't lived. (16:00) I was new.
(16:01) My mom and dad, (16:02) I was their fifth kid. (16:03) They were able to raise me in a nice suburban neighborhood. (16:05) Unlike their first kids, (16:07) you know, (16:07) they, (16:07) my brothers were raising the projects.
(16:09) I was in this like beautiful prefabricated suburban house. (16:13) I think I hadn't lived life. (16:15) I think I was, (16:15) I, (16:16) uh, (16:17) there was like a judgment, (16:18) you know, (16:18) a non living life judgment that Gabby Vanessa 1.0. (16:22) Because that's because I, (16:23) I, (16:23) I didn't know what the world was like now.
(16:26) I mean, (16:26) I have, (16:27) whoo, (16:27) my book, (16:28) I can have a series of books. (16:30) Let's just put it that way. (16:30) I have seen things.
(16:32) I have been places. (16:33) Yes. (16:33) And I, (16:33) it's given me so much more compassion.
(16:36) And, (16:36) and, (16:36) and a thing with trauma, (16:37) I will say, (16:38) once you turn that corner of, (16:39) um, (16:40) you know, (16:40) just constantly being brought down by past trauma, (16:43) those triggers, (16:44) there's a, (16:45) a thing called glimmers. (16:47) And so you got to get rid of the triggers and you replace them with glimmers. (16:50) And glimmers are those little moments in every day that make life worth living.
(16:53) And before you know it, (16:55) life becomes just glimmer, (16:56) glimmer, (16:57) glimmer. (16:57) And it's a, (16:57) it's a great place to be, (16:58) you know? (16:59) Yeah. (16:59) That's a great way to say, (17:00) I like that.
(17:01) And glimmer is a great word. (17:03) I love that word. (17:04) Yeah.
(17:05) Yeah. (17:06) So, (17:06) all right. (17:07) I want, (17:07) I want the audience to know a little more about you so that, (17:10) uh, (17:10) first of all, (17:11) you have a website, (17:12) please tell us what it is.
(17:13) And then a little more about like, (17:15) what are the services and the content that they'll find if they go there? (17:19) Okay. (17:20) So gabbanesso.com is my main website. (17:23) And from there, (17:23) it'll take you to my mental health website, (17:25) which is ride the wave with gab.
(17:27) Um, (17:27) I don't know if there's a link to my Josh and gab website, (17:29) but that's just joshandgab.com. (17:31) But on, (17:32) uh, (17:33) the gabbanesso.com, (17:34) it's sort of a link tree and you will see everything. (17:36) So I put out a comedy album last year called gabbanesso tragic comedian. (17:41) I raised in the first month of releasing it.
(17:44) I raised money for two different nonprofits, (17:46) but now it's available for free. (17:47) So anyone can listen to it. (17:49) Um, (17:49) I have two original singles up on there.
(17:51) I have links to my YouTube channel. (17:54) Um, (17:55) you pretty much can find articles about me, (17:57) interviews I've done with NPR, (17:58) just things to just learn more about gab. (18:00) But what I can offer is pretty much, (18:02) you know, (18:03) and in terms of entertainment, (18:04) I mean, (18:05) live programming, (18:07) producing writing I've written.
(18:09) I used to work with a company where I helped write like, (18:12) native honors speeches. (18:14) I've done three eulogies in my life. (18:16) You know, (18:17) I, (18:17) I, (18:17) I mean, (18:17) I have a lot of writing skills, (18:19) a lot of entertaining skills.
(18:20) Uh, (18:20) but yeah, (18:21) live programming, (18:22) comedy, (18:22) mental health talks, (18:24) the Josh and gab show. (18:25) I write music. (18:26) I do workshops.
(18:27) I've done improv comedy workshops, (18:30) you know? (18:30) Yeah. (18:30) I don't stop. (18:31) And then my life coaching, (18:32) I look at it as a, (18:34) you know, (18:34) you're getting a one-on-one with a standup.
(18:36) So I'm going to keep you laughing. (18:37) I've got more energy than a puppy or a toddler. (18:40) So I'm going to throw all of that into you and making your goals achievable.
(18:45) I am a trauma informed life coach. (18:46) So maybe you don't even realize you've gone through trauma and have some stuck points. (18:50) And I might keep hearing that like stopping you from reaching your goals.
(18:54) I'm going to bring it up and we're going to figure out a way for you to treat that and get you the help that you need. (18:58) So, (18:58) yeah, (18:59) I just think I have a lot to offer. (19:01) Yeah, (19:01) you really do.
(19:02) That's why I want to make sure people can find you. (19:06) Okay. (19:06) So let's talk a little bit more about preparation for your audience.
(19:12) How do you prepare in order to make sure you get the end result that you're looking for? (19:18) That's a great question. (19:19) you know, (19:20) going into it, (19:21) I want to kind of have an idea of who my audience is because I want to know what we're going for. (19:25) So, (19:26) for instance, (19:27) over the fall, (19:28) I did a lot of mental health speaking for adults who work with kids who have either been through trauma, (19:35) or autistic ADHD.
(19:37) So that was like, (19:38) oh, (19:38) my gosh, (19:38) I mean, (19:39) I can really give that story. (19:40) You know what I mean? (19:41) I'm giving you the perspective of a kid who, (19:44) you know, (19:45) the school did put me in group therapy in middle school to getting therapy in college. (19:49) Like, (19:49) it all happened that, (19:50) you know, (19:50) a lot of the trauma was in childhood.
(19:52) So I can speak to that directly. (19:55) It's a lot of prep of like knowing who I'm speaking to. (19:58) I ask a ton of questions.
(20:00) I don't go into anything without like a zoom meeting. (20:03) You know, (20:03) I'm like, (20:04) hey, (20:04) can we sit down? (20:04) I want to know exactly what you want. (20:06) How many people are there? (20:07) Who am I speaking to? (20:09) You know, (20:09) you're doing market research.
(20:11) Just like if you were, (20:12) if you were like Procter and Gamble, (20:14) you would be, (20:15) okay, (20:15) I'm going to go, (20:16) I'm going to gather a whole bunch of data on how people wash clothes. (20:20) And then you pull all that data in and then it helps you to design a solution for that (20:25) audience. (20:26) Exactly.
(20:27) Exactly. (20:27) That's so wild that you you're doing the same. (20:30) It's like a very similar R&D gathering process.
(20:33) I appreciate you. (20:35) Like, (20:35) I don't think I even realized that I would, (20:37) you know, (20:37) I wouldn't have given it a name. (20:38) I'm just like, (20:38) oh, (20:39) well, (20:39) I have to know this stuff or I can't do my job.
(20:41) But I noticed that too, (20:42) with in the Josh and Gab show, (20:44) because, (20:45) you know, (20:45) 13 years ago, (20:46) I didn't have a little godson. (20:48) So I would like, (20:49) we'd be doing shows and kids would be like, (20:50) oh, (20:51) this is my favorite show. (20:52) I like this video game.
(20:53) And so I would go home and research and be like, (20:55) what are these video games? (20:56) And then work that into my, (20:58) oh yeah. (20:58) Hey, (20:58) I was like Minecraft the other. (21:00) Now I actually play Minecraft, (21:01) but then I would lie and pretend I played Minecraft.
(21:05) You know, (21:05) just you do research. (21:06) You want to know your audience and you want to, (21:08) you know, (21:09) the trending things are for whatever age you're performing for. (21:12) So, (21:12) yeah.
(21:13) Yeah. (21:13) And that's how innovation happens. (21:16) Do your research, (21:17) find the problem spots.
(21:19) Oh, (21:19) I love it. (21:20) Yeah, (21:20) it's really fun. (21:21) It's really fun.
(21:22) Let's talk about digital marketing for a minute. (21:25) I mean, (21:25) how has the role of, (21:28) you know, (21:28) digital marketing evolved and impacted you in your business? (21:33) It's, (21:33) it's wild. (21:34) It's, (21:35) you know, (21:36) in a lot of ways, (21:37) starting off, (21:38) it was a gift.
(21:38) Like, (21:39) wait a minute, (21:39) we have free advertise. (21:41) I can just go online and put up. (21:43) This is what, (21:43) you know, (21:43) that was really exciting.
(21:45) But then to also deal with mental health, (21:48) social media is exhausting. (21:50) It's a trauma inducing. (21:52) It's a, (21:52) you know, (21:53) you need to, (21:53) you need to have boundaries even with that.
(21:56) So I'm really trying in 2025 to normalize for performers, (22:00) not to be on more than they need to be. (22:02) Yes. (22:03) Use it for advertising, (22:04) get your content out there, (22:05) do what you need to do, (22:06) but let's not live on the internet because there's also other ways to promote word of mouth.
(22:11) People have just given up on ads. (22:14) You know, (22:14) I do buy a lot of Google ads and like online ads like that, (22:17) because I mean, (22:18) they're cheap, (22:18) they're easy, (22:19) but billboards, (22:20) there's lots of options. (22:21) We don't have to just be limited to the digital landscape.
(22:24) I think we're going to get back to a lot more of like mailers and things. (22:28) I don't know. (22:28) I feel like old school techniques are going to be coming because the new techniques are kind of getting boring now.
(22:34) Yeah, (22:34) I don't know. (22:35) I just try to really keep my eye on everything. (22:37) Like the way other people like tune things out that they don't agree with.
(22:41) I want to absorb everything because I can't, (22:43) you know, (22:44) there's everybody is an audience and everybody is different and there's just so much information. (22:47) So I do try to take it all in, (22:49) but with boundaries and in healthy doses. (22:53) All right.
(22:55) So let's kind of shift gears for a second then. (22:58) What do you think is the most exciting part of your work? (23:01) What is it that like when you get up in the morning, (23:04) you get excited and you get those feet on the floor and you're like, (23:09) I'm on, (23:09) I'm going to go make it happen. (23:10) Oh man, (23:11) I feel like I'm the luckiest person in the world.
(23:15) Like truly that I get to go entertain, (23:19) speak and tell my story that people even want to listen to some, (23:23) you know, (23:23) girl from outside of Pittsburgh story. (23:26) Like it's wild. (23:27) I just feel like I'm the luckiest person in the world.
(23:29) But when I emote from people when they're, (23:32) I mean, (23:32) there's nothing better than little kids, (23:35) gut laughing at my storytelling or loving my music or even a, (23:40) I mean, (23:40) grownups. (23:41) I mean, (23:42) grownups being like, (23:42) Gab, (23:43) your story has saved my life. (23:44) I had one woman, (23:45) I had done a virtual mental health talk and before the talk, (23:49) multiple people had to reach out to this woman.
(23:51) Like, (23:51) we know you're depressed. (23:52) Please just tune in. (23:53) Please come see this comedian.
(23:55) She tunes in. (23:56) I do my performance afterwards. (23:57) She writes a letter to the organizer saying it was the first time in a (24:01) month she had showered.
(24:02) She had planned on starting exercise walking in the next day based on (24:05) what I said that I made her feel less alone. (24:07) I mean, (24:08) those little moments of like, (24:09) you could actually change a person's life. (24:11) Just being real.
(24:12) It's yeah. (24:13) I mean, (24:13) it's, (24:13) I'm the luckiest person in the world, (24:15) George. (24:15) And I don't have to do it at that level of celebrity.
(24:19) I mean, (24:19) I, (24:19) I, (24:20) that doesn't, (24:21) I mean, (24:21) I don't want to, (24:22) that, (24:22) that doesn't seem very fun. (24:23) I get to do it in my hometown, (24:25) in my community, (24:27) give back and I get to travel. (24:29) I mean, (24:29) it's not that I haven't been.
(24:30) I mean, (24:30) I've been to Canada, (24:31) Mexico. (24:31) I've been to 17 different States. (24:33) I've performed, (24:34) you know, (24:34) all the major cities are in comedy, (24:35) but yeah, (24:36) I feel very lucky.
(24:38) Yeah. (24:38) Yeah. (24:39) Lucky and blessed.
(24:40) It sounds like in the field of work, (24:43) I do a lot of work in innovation. (24:45) And one of the things I like to do is I like to identify problems that people have. (24:50) And I think that's, (24:52) you can do no, (24:52) but it's like a noble cause.
(24:54) If I can go find that problem and I can make it go away, (24:58) it helps other people. (25:00) You're utilizing your skills to help other people that are challenged in certain ways. (25:05) It's no different than, (25:06) We'll go back to Procter and Gamble again people who weren't cleaning their clothes properly and that's a problem for them (25:13) You know, they're running around they smell or their clothes or a mess or whatever and then so they came in with a noble cause (25:19) They figure out a way to make a better soap and everybody's happy and it's like they're going to your show (25:25) they might come in with struggles with whatever they're dealing with and (25:30) you've invented a solution for their (25:33) To help them go to a better place and that's that's admirable.
Thank you. Thank you (25:38) Or at least get them to open their eyes ago. Maybe I should talk to a therapist (25:42) Maybe I should take a walk or whatever it is.
Yeah, really? I really hope to promote that to people. That's wonderful (25:48) Where do you see yourself? Let's say in five years from now (25:53) Yeah, I mean, you know I say I don't want to be famous, but I would like a little bit doing a slightly better (25:58) You know, I mean, I'm a renter right now. I wouldn't mind owning my own tiny home.
That's a dream of mine (26:03) But no in five years what I would like to I would like to already have I'd like to get this first (26:08) So the book I'm writing with my my therapist is very specific. It's about my journey to healing with her (26:14) but I would like to put out some more books I both memoir style that are more funny and (26:20) And then some just creative writing as well and children's books. I have a lot of ideas for mental wellness books for kids (26:27) So writing is a big part of that more touring (26:29) I I really would like to branch out from Pennsylvania a big dream of mine is to tour like (26:36) inpatient residents and (26:37) Outpatient residents and like visit my people, you know what I mean? Yeah, like guys I found a way come on (26:44) You know people up, you know, so you're saying I want to be an author and yeah, you know and there you go (26:51) That's another creative, you know, you're a creative person.
That's another creative art (26:55) So it sounds to me like, you know, the kind of work you're doing there's an audience for that work (27:00) Writing to that effect and putting humor into that could be very interesting (27:04) I think and I think writing is a smart step as I as I'm getting older too because I love performing (27:10) But I mean if you ever come to one of my shows, I'm covering that stage now (27:14) Will I be able to do that when I'm 90? I don't know but I'll be able to write so like that (27:17) You know, I'm also trying to plan for the future as well. But live performing is is a is something (27:22) I don't see me stopping ever. I think I'll be doing that as a an old lady.
No matter of what my body looks like (27:28) Well, Gabby my staff loves you that's how I keep you know, they brought all this to me and I was like (27:34) All right, we got to do something here. So Gabby, thank you so much for being on tomorrow's world today (27:39) Well, everybody that's another edition of tomorrow's world today. Thanks for tuning in.
Bye Gabby. Bye (27:46) Thank you for listening to this episode of tomorrow's world today podcast (27:50) Join us next time as we continue to explore the worlds of inspiration creation innovation in production (27:56) Discover more at tomorrow's world today comm connect with us on social media at TWT explore and find us wherever (28:03) Podcasts are available