Season One Finale: Samantha Irby on the Art of Comedy Writing

Deesha Philyaw and Kiese Laymon chat with the hilarious and multitalented Samantha Irby, author of multiple wickedly funny essay collections, as well as writer for multiple television series.
Samantha talks about her own confidence and how she’s able to write guiltless memoir pieces. She distinguishes between the experiences of watching what she’s written versus reading what she’s written. Has she bougie-ed out of her past? And, of course, what are the ins and outs of comedy-writing? Can it be taught? What are the industry-wide issues with gatekeeping? And who do you write to? 
Reading List: Authors, Stories, and Books Mentioned


bitches gotta eat! (Samantha Irby blog)


“My Mother, My Daughter” (Samantha Irby, The Rumpus 2012)


We Are Never Meeting In Real Life (Samantha Irby)


Meaty (Samantha Irby)


New Year, Same Trash (Samantha Irby)\


Wow, No Thank You (Samantha Irby)


Quietly Hostile (Samantha Irby)


Watch List:

Shrill

And Just Like That: Sex and the City

Tuca and Bertie

Atlanta

Mea Culpa

Paul Mooney

Mike Epps

Mo’Nique

Shirley Hemphill

Nell Carter


Listening List:

“Upgrade U” (Beyoncé)

More from Deesha Philyaw and Kiese Laymon: 


The Secret Lives of Church Ladies (Deesha Philyaw)


Heavy (Kiese Laymon)


Long Division (Kiese Laymon)



How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America: Essays (Kiese Laymon)



Ursa Short Fiction podcast (Deesha Philyaw and Dawnie Walton)


Produced by Ursa Story Company in partnership with Reckon. 
Hosted by Deesha Philyaw & Kiese Laymon
Show Producers: Dawnie Walton & Mark Armstrong
Associate Producer: Marina Leigh
Episode Editor: Kelly Araja

Reckon Editor In Chief: R.L. Nave
Reckon Deputy Editor: Michelle Zenarosa
Audience Director: Katie Johnston
Creative Strategist: Abbey Crain
Sr. Social Producer: Sid Espinosa
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