AND HERE’S MODI
AND HERE’S MODI is an inside look at the man behind the microphone. Hosted by comedian, Modi (@modi_live), AHM features a raw and unfiltered side of the comedian rarely seen on stage. He always finds the funny as he navigates the worlds of comedy, trending topics, his personal life and spirituality. AHM is co-hosted by Periel Aschenbrand (@perielaschenbrand) and Leo Veiga (@leo_veiga_).
AND HERE’S MODI
Jessica Kirson
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Episode 131: The AHM crew is (eventually) joined by the 'Queen of Crowd Work' Jessica Kirson. Jessica talks about her similarities with pimps, her "Never-Ending" tour, embracing her success and the time Modi met her father. Leo admits he is starstruck.
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Starbucks, Celsius, and Comedy
Speaker 1welcome to and here's modi . Can I just see my shot ?
Speaker 2come on pose that's nice , you just want to move to the music okay , all righty , and here's mod .
Speaker 1Hello everybody , welcome back . We are in the studio currently , me , leo and Periel Ashen Brand . Wow , yes , when you told me brand the word brand is like a brand , like a Giorgio Armani brand it helped me out , figure out how to say your name . And so we're here , periel Ashen Brand , and waiting for a guest , but we're starting off anyway . We at this time , by the time this airs , are fully on tour and we are between . By now there's probably an election . That has happened .
Speaker 2I hope the results .
Speaker 1This is the message in a bottle to our future selves yes , we may be seeking asylum in the uk I will be on stage when the results come in even though yeah , I'll be . I'll be at the palladium in london yeah , on november 6th our agent said I have a . I have a great gift for you ?
Speaker 2yeah , he framed . He framed it as a gift , yes , not like would you like to work in London .
Speaker 1But we said I actually would love to be in London during election day .
Speaker 3You're literally going to be on stage when the results get in . Well , let's be clear .
Speaker 1Yeah , those results are not coming in for any time , for a few weeks probably .
Speaker 3Fair enough .
Speaker 2Yeah , yeah .
Speaker 1If at all if at all , if at all , and either way , they're going to be contested uh , we watched kamala harris last night and by watched , I went to bed , I , I watched , I watched , I watched she was throwing some balls and she could have really banged them in and uh , she , she didn't . Not to say that that doesn't make her super qualified to be the president , but she had moments where she could have nailed it . You know , she could have and I don't know , I don't know what the results are going to be .
Speaker 3Is she super qualified to be the president ?
Speaker 1Isn't she ?
Speaker 3I mean , I don't know . I think that depends on who you ask .
Speaker 1She was a lawyer . Oh good , I like that . You're resisting me . I'm because you , because you , as we all know , we are politically asexual , but we , um , but uh , I think I'm having a sexual awakening .
Speaker 2Oh , you are , I'm scared .
Speaker 1Um , um , um . I have faith in the lord god and I the Lord In the Lord right . I never said the Lord before right .
Speaker 4You can't say that . I don't think I can say , lord I don't think you can say Lord .
Speaker 1No , because the Lord , our God , the Lord is one . You can say the Lord , it's God .
Speaker 2Why can't you say Lord , I thought the Christians had a hard time .
Speaker 1Christians have a much different definition of Lord than Jews just a word for God , yeah .
Speaker 2Whereas I think your Lord is the pop star from New Zealand .
Speaker 1Yeah , Leo , oh bam , leo's on tonight .
Speaker 2I have to carry the weight of it . I mean , oh , your shoulder's a little heavy .
Speaker 1Are your shoulders carrying this podcast , Leo oh ?
Speaker 2Those of you listening . This is the sound of cold brew , A venti cold brew from starbucks yeah , we are about to do four podcasts today .
Speaker 1We're gonna be wired .
Speaker 3I don't know how you guys drink starbucks .
Speaker 2I really don't oh , is it not good for you ? No , it's just the shitty coffee let's do a question what is your go-to starbucks order if you have to at gunpoint ? If you're not a Starbucks person , even , what is your Starbucks order If you're in an airport and you're dying ? You need a caffeine ? Hit , there's only a Starbucks . What's your order ?
Speaker 3I'm going to get the same thing I always get . It's an espresso with cold milk and ice .
Speaker 2And I am saying and they give it to you in that little tiny baby cup .
Speaker 3No , I ask for it in like a bigger cup so I could put ice and milk in it .
Speaker 1I never drink it in it , oh those of you who deviate from things that are just meant to be . I would never in my life ask them to do something out of the box Ice coffee with a little bit of almond milk , period , yeah , and that's it . If it's early and cold , regular coffee medium with a little bit of almond milk , that's it . So easy . They usually turn around , do it for me and hand it to me right away . I don't have to wait to hear Modi , modi .
Speaker 2Modi gets mad , because he'll be like I'll have exactly what you said a medium coffee with almond milk Period . And then I'll be like can I please have a venti iced oat latte ?
Speaker 1with two pumps of sugar-free vanilla , with two pumps of sugar and one thick of scent , and kisses and hugs . And if you could hold me when it's ready , that would be nice and then four hours later we hear Leo , like literally four hours later , and it's never right , but listen to me .
Speaker 2Iced latte with oat milk is not a complicated order . I'm just . What's throwing you is the two pumps of sugar-free vanilla , because it sounds superfluous and luxury .
Speaker 1She pumps these two , it looks like shampoo . She puts in shampoo , vanilla shampoo in his drink , yeah , and then he can't settle down the whole day , and then he can't settle down the whole day .
Speaker 2I wonder why I have to take too Ambien to sleep at night Wait a second .
Speaker 3Here's the question for the viewers .
Speaker 1Yes .
Speaker 3Is Starbucks coffee garbage ?
Speaker 2I think everyone's palate is blown out from all of the processed foods . I'm drinking Celsius during the day , do you know what that is . It's battery acid .
Speaker 3Right ? No , it's not . Yes , it is .
Speaker 1No , it's not .
Speaker 3You guys , your palates are blown out because you're drinking Celsius all day .
Speaker 2No , all of America is also drinking that shit . Everybody is drinking Celsius and the monster energy drinks . No , god forbid .
Speaker 1I just saw the Instagram the four things you shouldn't drink . One of them is Monster , one of them is some Prime or whatever some other crazy drink . I never heard of Red Bull they say you should never drink . And then they said the something in Starbucks is a drink you order in Starbucks . That's just all pure Carcinogens , horrible .
Speaker 3And you know the other thing .
Speaker 1I was praying to God please don't say Celsius . And they didn't say Celsius .
Speaker 2We got a very sweet fan email from someone . You know how sometimes you can just glean from an email that the writer of said email is like an older person Of said email . And they like wrote out this email and they were like Modi , you mentioned Celsius on the podcast and I wasn't sure what it was , so I researched it and then they sent me a video of like why Celsius is bad for you . And she was like , please be careful and watch what you're putting in your body .
Speaker 1And I was like… oh , that's so sweet , thanks , but no thanks , delete no , no , thank you for sending that . Thank you for caring , but it also has… .
Speaker 3It has vitamins ?
Speaker 1No , not that . No , come on , it does have vitamins . Are you guys going to ? Let me discuss this ? Celsius allows you to go have a workout that you would not regularly have at the gym . If you time that Celsius correctly , you will have an amazing workout . If I have my Celsius a half hour before the opening act goes on and it hits me half hour into my set , I just want to keep going and going and going , you know , back in the day people in showbiz used to just do cocaine .
Speaker 1I don't do cocaine . I don't do cocaine .
Speaker 2That's right Cue Jessica Kearson .
Speaker 1Enter Jessica Kearson . Please just hop in . Oh my God , like when they do an Aaliyah in the synagogue . Yamo Jessica , what's your mother's name ? What's your mother's name ? Yamo Jessica Elaine , we'll just sit right on , pick up that mic . So it's right in your face .
Speaker 4I need a lesbian here .
Speaker 1You did it . You are the lesbian here . Hi , jessica , your face like a big . I needed lesbian here . You did it . You are the lesbian here .
Speaker 4Oh , you are there's a lot to walk into , because I don't like attention . I'm serious , you think I'm joking , but okay , oh my god , do an intro .
Speaker 1Do an intro . I'm gonna do an intro and I'm gonna do the intro with a full on blessing . I have been waiting for you to be a guest on this podcast for like three years .
Speaker 4Yeah , do you have anyone who can clean my glasses ? I can give them to me . I was joking , but thank you , Jessica , I'm going to start with I the help . Do you have the help here For the girl ?
Speaker 1The girl , the girl , the girl .
Speaker 4You still do that bit . No , it's so good .
Speaker 3Yeah , it works in the South when I talk about how Jewish people have called the girl .
Speaker 1Oh my God , I love you . You look great .
Speaker 4Thank you , I'm so miserable . How are you guys doing , jessica ?
Speaker 2Oh , my God , I love you . I feel like we've had so many comedians on this show and I get like a little starstruck that you're here , really .
Speaker 4Yeah , you're like one of the people who makes me laugh the hardest , like you're so cute because I feel like I don't laugh at comedy shows anymore I don't laugh at anyone , especially moly no , I don't laugh at me , uh I do see this time .
Speaker 1Leo just crawls into the sofa and he's watching stuff and you is like when he'll laugh out loud yeah , yeah , all my other like receptors are blown out from like being at the cellar I know it's really painful it's like I don't know if that's the definition of jaded maybe , but like you , I still love your stuff and you are , you're lily .
Speaker 4You become the queen of crowd work yeah , which is crazy I mean I just I , I mean it's part of what I do , but it's like a niche thing , like I just started posting crowd work clips because I'm not going to post my material .
Speaker 2Right .
Speaker 4And it just did . Everyone liked it .
Speaker 1And can I know how many ? You have 571,000 followers .
Speaker 3Some people said they hope she burns in a fire .
Speaker 2Of course , Well , you get a lot of crazies . What ? Yeah , you get a lot of crazies .
Speaker 4No , I have amazing fans Like my manager says I'm like the Grateful Dead for the mentally ill . They're really good people because they're miserable and they hate themselves . So they're really like they want to laugh .
Speaker 1Oh my God , jessica Zahn , we could just sit back
Comedian's Banter and Confidence
Speaker 1. I am so happy to see you . Oh my God , how long have you been doing comedy ? Do you have bagels ? No , no , no , no , we don't do that . Why don't you have anything ? I have a yarmulke . I'll give you a yarmulke . You have so much money .
Speaker 4You can't get catering .
Speaker 2What would you have liked to have been here ?
Speaker 4I mean I'd have catering and I have like half of it .
Speaker 1Decisions kosherdogsnet . 30% off of your first order with code MODY .
Speaker 4I'm going to vomit .
Speaker 2Oh , my God Wait . Do you actually have catering when you do your show ?
Speaker 4Well , I'm starting a podcast again , you are .
Speaker 2What's it ?
Speaker 3called . That's exciting .
Speaker 4Just the Jessica Kirsten Show . Yeah , because my dream is to have a talk show at some point . You'd be so good at I really want to do that , but they we'll see , because they , you know , they don't hire women so how long have you been doing comedy ?
Speaker 1how long have I known you ?
Speaker 478 years , literally 25 years I've known you 25 years .
Speaker 1I've known you wow what year did you start ? I started 94 at the cellar 90 that's when I started walking . 30 years , jessica and I when did you have your first child ? Well , I didn't have any of them because , jessica and I , when did you have your first child ?
Speaker 4well , I didn't have any of them because I don't want to ruin this temple , but I spread my seed to women and I was first . How old was I when Zoe was born ?
Speaker 1I was like 36 so how long ago was that ?
Speaker 4Why are you doing math equations ?
Speaker 1Because we did that event . I did that event with your house . Yeah , you did her baby naming . I did her baby naming .
Speaker 4Well , she's 18 . Can you believe that she's in college ?
Speaker 118 years ago , Jessica Kirsten calls me up and says I have a baby , I got a Mazel To . We need to do a baby naming . Baby naming is usually the Saturday after the daughter is born . They do it as a part of the Aaliyahs . But she says , no , we're doing it at our house , my mother's house . My dad's house , your dad's house and I'm coming in and she goes . Could you just do a ceremony ? I did a full , I wore the robe .
Speaker 2You love getting a drag .
Speaker 3I wore the can was great .
Speaker 4I have pictures of that somewhere . I have to find them , you have pictures of that ?
Speaker 1I would love to see it , but this was . I walk into the house and Jessica's like Jessica's in full futz and screaming . The mother is just hollering and going nuts . And then I stand in front of the stairwell and her father comes down , toupee an inch off his head , am .
Speaker 4I right ? Yeah , he toupee an inch off his head . Am I right ? Yeah , he was better looking without it , because it would look like roadkill .
Speaker 1Literally . But the first words he says to me I'm standing in a full canter outfit , robe tallest , I hate you First . No , I'll never forget this says to me irregular , I go what Irregular . Yes , we're doing a lesbian . He goes . Irregular , I go what's irregular , he goes . These pants I bought for $17 . They cost 180 . They're Ralph Lauren , they're irregular . And he shows me how on the bottom the stitching was a little bit off .
Speaker 4He did it to make you laugh . He was very funny , he was he .
Speaker 1I said , oh , this is going to be an amazing day . I put together some ceremony . I couldn't . I began doing psalms and then I go oh , my voice is on , I just went off and it was just . You were great , Wasn't it an amazing ?
Speaker 4event and the food was delicious . Yeah the food was crazy . Right , we have great food at my family .
Speaker 1It was really next level it at my family .
Speaker 4It was really next level . It was like they teased you with the locks and they said guess what ? We have real food too . It was so good Sandwiches and omelets . I know we go all out , wow yeah .
Speaker 1And that was the house where you talk about where your mother used to do .
Speaker 4No , that's my dad's house in Short Hills , New Jersey , Right .
Speaker 1Short .
Speaker 4Hills , but , no , my mom . We lived in South Orange and my mom saw clients in the basement when I had to be quiet every day .
Speaker 2She was a psychiatrist . Yeah , she's a psychologist .
Speaker 4Psychologist , yeah , yeah .
Speaker 1And you talked about that and it's the funniest . Yeah , I had to be quiet every day .
Speaker 4She would be helping people in the basement and I would be like having anxiety disorder , like panic attacks upstairs . She'd be like Susan needs my help . I'm like well , I just ate six pizzas and beheaded my Barbies . Good luck to Susan .
Speaker 2What's the phrase ? The cobbler's children ?
Speaker 3have Never have shoes . No , the cobblers don't have shoes , always go barefoot , yeah .
Speaker 1You are as busy as a beaver in whatever the hell .
Speaker 2beavers are the never-ending tour .
Speaker 4I know .
Speaker 2That's what you've called it . I gotta change it .
Speaker 4It's a little depressing Because it's no , because I'm getting tired , I'm getting tired , I have a question branding-wise , Like from Because we People see tour dates .
Speaker 2Sorry , I can't talk and they'll send messages . Is this Different from the last Modi show that was in town ?
Speaker 4I can't stand when people say that . But I think with you it's more common Because it's the it's very Jewish , it is . Is this the same show ? But it's not . But it's not that I saw . I know , but there .
Speaker 2But that's why you changed the name , but then I see your poster is called the NeverEnding Tour and you just keep adding dates to it . People ask you the same like .
Speaker 4Hardly ever , but I don't it's not the same , because you have happier fans .
Speaker 1You also don't have . You don't have a set list , do you ?
Speaker 4Do you ? Yeah , I do crowd work for about well . The other night I did 30 minutes of crowd work . It's crazy , but that's when I'm really on .
Speaker 1But normally it's like 20 minutes of crowd work and then I do like 50 minutes of Just for the audience Crowd workers when the comic speaks to the audience and like where are you from , what do you do ? And then a joke would come in . And most people are horrible at it . Most people are absolutely horrible at it . Jessica is a queen of it . I avoid it because I love my material too much .
Speaker 4Yeah , I just love doing my material .
Speaker 1It's not your thing , it's not my thing , if it happens .
Speaker 4I'm very good at it .
Speaker 1Yeah , you're good at everything , but I don't , but I don't yeah , no , no , I don't care , I will , I'll toot my own horn , I just avoid it .
Speaker 4You're amazing at that , like you're amazing on stage .
Speaker 1You have to understand something about crowd work . There's an element here that people don't understand something . You're on stage with a microphone , you already got them rolling and now , whatever you say , they're already in a laughing mode . So it's not now . You just have to be a little clever , or maybe even hold back or make a face . So what do you do ? I'm a receptionist , and then you just go like that , you know , pull back and the audience explodes of laughter .
Speaker 4Well , I don't already have them in a thing ? I literally go out and don't even do a joke . I don't have them in a whole tizzy already , I just say- .
Speaker 1Jessica , your presence . When you walk on stage and you turn to them and just lock eyes with them , the audience is already like .
Speaker 1Such an important part of comedy is the confidence , the comic has on stage you walk on stage and it says this is my place , this is where I belong , this is what I do . You're here , especially in a comedy club . I'm a comedian , this is the comedy club , this is my drag period , this is my thing . When it's in a different location , a country club , when you're going to work in their environment and you show up , it's a little . You still have to have , you still walk on stage . I am , this is where I belong . Yeah , you're not here , I'm here , you're sitting , yeah , and you have that .
Speaker 4You walk on stage and people like bam , this , this bitch is gonna nail it yeah , they know that I , when I taught for years , I would always tell female com , I mean every comic . But you have to own the room you have to like like this is mine , don't fuck with me , I'm not afraid of you . Like . That is the whole . It's more important than materials the confidence I think and and likability yes , yes , yeah , and you're .
Speaker 1and now , back in the day , you were much bigger , you were a big girl .
Speaker 4I was .
Speaker 1Yeah , and you used to address that . No , she had these amazing jokes I was huge , she was huge , yeah , she was huge . You obviously can't do those jokes Of course I do .
Speaker 4I deal with food addiction .
Speaker 2So when people say you can't talk , I'm like don't tell me what I can and can't talk about . I didn't say you can't , I asked how do you do it ?
Speaker 4Fans will sometimes say that to me how do you do it ? How I talk about my struggle with food my whole life and then I went to fat camp you know , jewish fat camp jack camp . And I was like 10 pounds overweight , but that's enormous in a Jewish family where you have to look good , you know Right ? So yeah , because it's always going to be a struggle of mine . So even though I've lost weight , I still struggle with it every day .
Speaker 1To make myself laugh . At times I think about your line , about I'm going to deep throat a sleeve of Oreos , a sleeve of Oreos .
Speaker 2Yeah , I haven't said that in a long time .
Speaker 4I say I turn around and talk to myself and I say stop eating salads in public . Everyone knows you .
Speaker 2Go home and fuck your face with a sleeve of sleep and it's like um , when you add so much brown sugar to your oatmeal .
Speaker 1Yeah , yeah yeah , it comes , a miniature pie it's so good and and she says it , not like I if I say the joke that's gonna , it's gonna , I know it's gonna land , I sit there and hollish and all the laughter . She just moves bright on , just throws it at them and you see people that can't catch up to her .
Speaker 4See you like bask and I'm very uncomfortable with the attention . I know that sounds crazy , but I have to force myself to like . When I'm doing theaters now and people are giving me standing ovations and in my mind I'm like , jessica , stay out here , take it . Let yourself feel this , you deserve it . It's torture from asking it yeah but most comics are like I just killed . I'm like , the one guy in the red shirt did not laugh once my father is back from the dead right and and looking at me .
Speaker 2Speaking of theaters , you're doing the Beacon .
Speaker 4Yes , mazel Tov , yeah you , I mean .
Speaker 2You both are doing the Beacon when are you doing it ?
Speaker 4I thought you did it already .
Comedy Show Schedules and Challenges
Speaker 1Three shows coming up 17 , 18 , and 19 of December oh good , those are good dates for you . Those are great , and Seinfeld is the 20 .
Speaker 4Yeah .
Speaker 1That's amazing . I'm super excited and he's doing one show . He's doing one . Well , you know he does it monthly or often .
Speaker 4Oh , I didn't know that .
Speaker 1Yeah , yeah , yeah , yeah , you're doing it in February .
Speaker 4I'm doing it in April , april yeah .
Speaker 1He literally does the beacon like we do spots at the cellar . Yeah , it's so funny . Yeah , and he deserves 17 , 18 , 19 , 20, . He's doing that , yeah .
Speaker 3What are your dates in April .
Speaker 4April 25th and the 24th . I think too . Wow , yeah .
Speaker 1Wow , 25th is already set .
Speaker 4That's major .
Speaker 1Right before .
Speaker 2Pesach .
Speaker 4Yes .
Speaker 2And you filmed your special already .
Speaker 4Yes , I did . I filmed my special that's coming out on Hulu .
Speaker 2Amazing when .
Speaker 4Around that time too .
Speaker 2Oh , that's amazing . Where'd you film it ?
Speaker 4I filmed it at Sony Hall . It was great . I mean , it came out amazing . It took a lot of work to make it what it is and I'm very , very proud of it . And people it's so funny because people that see me online or like followers probably think it's all crowd work and there's no crowd work .
Speaker 2That's really good . It's so fat and juicy for them to like bite into .
Speaker 4Yeah , there's like one or two conversations , but that's it wow like small , tiny a few comedians have been doing sony hall .
Speaker 2Did you do anything different to the stage ?
Speaker 4yeah , yeah , we set up the whole stage and change . It's a good room , even though it has a great stage , the lighting behind it .
Speaker 1I did a few christmas shows there . The lighting behind there is amazing yeah , it's great and I don't .
Speaker 4You know , I didn't want to do it in a big theater , because what I'm telling you is I don't like that .
Speaker 1It's too much for me oh my god , it's so much easier in a big theater not for me , oh okay , it's I .
Speaker 4I like to be right on top of them . You know , I like to be like on top of them , packed in , and I don't bask in the , the big theater thing , it's not not . I'm like uncomfortable .
Speaker 1No , but the big theater thing , you get that wave of laughter and then it comes back Right . But we're all different .
Speaker 4Some people would only do it in a big theater .
Speaker 1I would only do it .
Speaker 4I've done both of them in a smaller 500 , 600 seat . Yeah .
Speaker 1That's amazing . That's so good . What's ?
Speaker 3it called .
Speaker 2Are you allowed to ? No it's , I can't say yet we'll save it .
Speaker 1So we'll save it . Yeah , you can come back and plug it again . Yeah , in another three years you can come back and we'll have catering for you then .
Speaker 4No , I'm joking I'll take an egg white omelet .
Speaker 2Is there a croissant back ?
Speaker 4there .
Speaker 1A croissant , a croissant and your kids .
Speaker 4Yeah , they're great .
Speaker 1Nachas . You're getting nachas from the kids .
Speaker 4Yeah , I'm in love with them . That's why I'm working so hard , so they don't have to worry . No , they're amazing , they're amazing , they're getting big .
Speaker 3How old are the little ones now ?
Speaker 4It's five . How old are the little ones now ? Five and a half , can you believe that ? I know , yeah , they're getting big , and then Bella is going to be nine .
Speaker 2Who travels on the road with you .
Speaker 4I have an opener who comes with me everywhere and then he films me . He also edits stuff .
Speaker 2It's great . Who is it ?
Speaker 4Dan , this guy , dan Janine . He's amazing , very funny .
Speaker 2I was thinking about that . You know , when I watch your clips , I'm like you have a camera on the audience , you have a camera on you . You have different angles . I'm like this bitch is filming a special .
Speaker 4Everywhere she goes like yeah , no , he's unbelievable and he also kills , and he's like one of my best friends .
Speaker 3I mean it's a great situation .
Speaker 4So that makes good yeah he's a brilliant editor , like yeah , he really is he made my youtube blow up and and about crowd work .
Speaker 2I mean , you're obviously good at it . I would say a lot of comedians who are doing it are not , but they are sort of forced to adopt it to like feed the algorithm and like put stuff out there without burning material . Do you think that that's like changing the palette of people who go to comedy shows ? Like , do you think people are seeing a TikTok star who like had a clip buying a ticket and then being like wait a minute , there's no .
Speaker 4Every club tells me that . Yeah , when I go to the comedy club on the road , they're like oh , we had , you know , Lil Jon Jon here last week .
Speaker 1And he's really big on TikTok . Yeah , he sold out four shows . It was no material and had nothing to talk about .
Speaker 4No , he was literally just went up and had five minutes and then it's just nightmare , like people walk out the clubs .
Speaker 3Tell me that people walk out and then they never book them again , right ?
Speaker 4Never book them again , and then these same people that came to the show might not go to another comedy .
Speaker 2That's what I'm saying . That's right . That's the problem . That's
Comedians Reflect on Live Performances
Speaker 2the problem . People who would normally live entertainment , live music , whatever that these internet acts ? Are burning kind of like audience .
Speaker 3They go so little John , john , and then never go back .
Speaker 1Going back to your crowd work . I will tell you . You know , when I watch you do audience work . If it doesn't go anywhere , you literally abort and go into material . Yeah , it's like if this thing is not gonna go anywhere , I'm not gonna bother with this I tell them I'm like this is the most boring conversation I've ever had . I gotta get away from you into good material yeah , and the , the , the accents , and uh , and the facials and it's , it's such a it's that's why I love what you do .
Speaker 4We're very similar in certain ways and powerful on stage and upbeat and energy and all this other shit , yeah , like .
Speaker 1So I love , I've always loved what you do yeah , thank you and I I do no , I remember I I once I I I dated somebody who had , who didn't really laugh much and didn't definitely didn't get any of my I remember this and I don't even remember who it was yeah , I remember , and I brought him like , like , much later on in our relationship to the comedy seller and he did not get any of my jokes and he didn't like , and Jessica came on . Jessica came on , and he was curled over and couldn't catch his breath .
Speaker 2That must have been nice for you to see . It was nice for him to see that he had that in him . Yeah Well .
Speaker 4I don't know , not for him , wait , wait , wait .
Speaker 1You and I did an event for some hospital or for some it was like in a basement somewhere , Do you ?
Speaker 3remember this .
Speaker 1It was so funny and we were .
Speaker 4Were we in the hospital no no , no , no , no , no .
Speaker 1We were in . It was for it was the young , the young league of this charity , this Jewish charity , and it was me and you , and the audience was this rich like Syrian , persian , they're just hard , yeah , they just whatever . And they didn't , they didn't get it . But the funniest part of the whole night was the guy who ran the event , walks into the , into the green room and there's like a bunch of cute people , the girl who's in charge and this and that and the adorable , beautiful people .
Speaker 3You guys will both do an hour and a half .
Speaker 1Right , right right .
Speaker 3But we can't pay you as much .
Speaker 1But then the older guy who , like , is in charge of the whole organization , comes in and then Jessica walks in and she goes hi , I'm everyone's nutritionist .
Speaker 4It was . I couldn't catch my breath . I don't remember anything .
Speaker 1Oh , I remember I don't even know where I am right now . No , no , no . I remember that we've moments . It's just . It's just , it's just no . We're 25 years . I've known her , we've run into , we've done shows , country clubs and oh , so many shows together I know I , you know , like tons of private events . Yes .
Speaker 4Always at the cellar , but like these private the private ones are the craziest ones . Craziest ones . Yeah , I mean they pay the most , but they're the . You know , they're the ones that I have to go .
Speaker 1I remember you called me after you did Florida . I remember the first time you did Florida .
Speaker 4Oh , I must have been .
Speaker 1You called for Jessica to call me . You understand , after a gig , I remember this phone call . You remember any of this , do you ?
Speaker 4I might remember that it was your first Florida .
Speaker 1It was one of these century villages .
Speaker 4Yeah , well , that was the worst . I mean , people say what's the worst ? I opened for the platters at Century Village .
Speaker 1I've gone to the point where they opened for me , but I will tell you so you know the gig . It's 1,200 people . They all paid $12 . They've all paid $12 to see the show . So you're really not making any money , but it's a great room .
Speaker 4And it's where you start to do these things .
Speaker 1Yeah , yeah yeah , it's like the introduction to this stuff . Yeah , and she called me before . What would I do ? I go , Jessica . This is an audience that they need to know who you are in their head . Are you the daughter ? Are you the ?
Speaker 4granddaughter . I remember this completely . Are you the granddaughter I do ? It was very good advice .
Speaker 1Are you the daughter-in-law ? They need to know who you are Set it up . Need to know who you are Set it up . Yeah , short Hills , jewish , this lesbian . They need to know where to file you and then do your act . She said I did that . I got them in the middle . Someone yelled out you need to lose weight . Oh you remember that ?
Speaker 3No . I don't remember that Someone yelled out you need to lose weight .
Speaker 1Someone yelled that out to you . Yeah , yeah , yeah , yeah , yeah .
Speaker 4Well , I think I mean it must have been , unless they were had complete dementia . I mean just to yell out I was probably in response to a joke or something .
Speaker 1They are 80 years old .
Speaker 4Yeah , no , I know I've done 700 of them . I know , but yeah , they yell out a lot . I talk about that in my act . They'll just be like comedian , comedian . Yeah , get me a seltzer water , like they're just people , people come to me .
Speaker 1I I talk about with the audience . I say people come to me and they go . You're modi , you're the gay husband that I love it .
Speaker 2Gay husband , you don't have a name as if you're the whole oh , I'm more than that , honey , I know that honey , I me .
Speaker 4But I knew it would get a laugh and I hate myself .
Speaker 1So no , no I miss you so much . Oh , my God yeah .
Speaker 3Jessica really saved my life during COVID . How ? Because we I produced and hosted a Zoom show for Jess and Rachel Feinstein during COVID .
Speaker 4Yeah , like how you guys did your thing during COVID .
Speaker 3What I did was lock myself in a closet for four hours every week and set up where , like hundreds of people would come and it was Jess and Rachel and me like navigating .
Speaker 4I saw some of this . It was hysterical , and then we had people came on like Amy Schumer would just pop on , or Gilbert Godfrey .
Speaker 3Like it was . Gilbert Godfrey came on Like five times and his son is screaming you're a cunt . It was the weirdest , my God . But , people were like sitting there and you were so generous with your time to these people because they had at the end we did a vip section , so if you paid extra , you could interact and you know , these people are , like you know , vampires oh yeah , they all want to tell you , they all want to tell your story .
Speaker 4Yeah , someone came up to meet me after a show the other day and she fingered me and I'm like that's pushing . That's a little like I'll hug you but don't finger me .
Speaker 1Do you do meet ?
Speaker 4and greets and it was at an Orthodox show , Like out of all places .
Speaker 1Do you do meet and greets ?
Speaker 4I used to and meet and greets I used to , and then I almost ended up in a mental institution . I swear it was a lot more than the show . Yeah , I was selling merch , but it was unbelievable . It's a lot . I love them and they're great . But my fans cry to me a lot . They talk to me about their problem .
Speaker 3It's heavy , that's what this online show was , though they would sit for hours yeah and they'd be like and then my husband .
Speaker 2That was pretty good that was pretty good acting dania act .
Speaker 4Wow very good , very good I , I , we , we .
Speaker 1Well , I have my meet and greets , but but Leo runs it , so he's , I balance them , he balances them .
Speaker 4It's good and they pay to do it right . Yes , See , that's what I'm going to start doing .
Speaker 1You would do a meet and greet for free .
Speaker 4Well , I would sell my merch and I would do like a picture for a certain price and if you brought something in a picture , I mean I made a lot of money selling merch and doing that .
Speaker 1I love it . It gets you a flavor of the people in the room and all of that .
Speaker 2We drove in from Great Neck to see you , yeah so we know , like we know , like we did the Paris show .
Speaker 3My son went to high school with your sister , you know my sister-in-law from Hewlett High School .
Speaker 2My nephew is a very talented karaoke singer in Los Angeles .
Speaker 4Can you get him signed with Columbia Records ?
Speaker 3And what about wait a second , because I know that you get these insane requests also ? You got something where somebody's uncle had his legs amputated and they wanted a face mask .
Speaker 4Oh , I get . No , I couldn't do it anymore . I was .
Speaker 2Modi's still on cameo , but it kind of reached a fever pitch when someone was like hi , my uncle's about to have a leg amputated , Can you give him a pep talk ?
Speaker 1But I did . I don't care , that's okay .
Speaker 4A pep talk is amazing , like hey , hey , you're gonna get your leg yeah , it's okay , you'll get another leg . Look a little a little bit of energy . Hey , that's so much .
Speaker 1You're so positive you have to be yeah , well , no you don't you ?
Speaker 4I mean some of us can't be okay I mean I'm , I do the best I can , but I can't do all that like I can . I'm doing these shows , I I people send me messages , I try to , but like I can't do too much , I also have four kids .
Speaker 3I know we're like barely . I can't imagine .
Speaker 4One kid , you're done .
Speaker 2I can't imagine . You have to be very careful with like who you open up a line of communication .
Speaker 4Right yeah , because they'll just . Some of them will just Vampires , not a lot , but some of them . But the audiences .
Speaker 1I love them all . I swear to God . The meet and greets they're crazy , the ones that my favorite when they just had their breasts done . So it's like two hard balls , like from a baseball game , those hard balls .
Speaker 4You mean the men you're meeting .
Speaker 1Yeah , yeah , the women . And then they stick my arm in between them , turn in my ear and go my father's a Holocaust , my mom has stage four cancer and turn to the camera and smile Literally . And I'm standing there like with these two breasts in my arm and I'm like smile and it's just no . But you get a good feel from the , you know where they're coming from , how far they've traveled for and I just love , I literally love my audience .
Speaker 4I love them . I do too . I really do , but you know it's some . I've also had legitimate stalkers , so I have to be very yeah Are you finding navigating cause .
Speaker 2I've seen you be vocal online like in a post-October 7th world , like you're a Jewish entertainer . Like , how are you navigating that now , especially like as we're like deep in this election cycle ? Do you feel like your audience is very ?
Speaker 4split or do you feel like I'm not political ? I'm well , I mean , I'm I'm very proud and yes , you know , but you're not . You are a comedian who is Jewish well , I do a lot of Jewish stuff , but right but I'm meaning , I do like characters and yeah , I don't talk about political stuff , but you don't consider , I'm a jewish comedian yeah , I know you are a comedian , that's jewish exactly , but you've been very vocal on your instagram and stuff .
Speaker 4I've been a little , mostly about the hostages right , yes , and if I post about a hostage and then I get stuff , you know , messages like you're a horrible person , like that's where I'm , like I just can't deal . So I try to not do it as much and I , you know , I give in other ways .
Speaker 2Right , that's kind of been .
Jessica Kirson's Comedy and Promotion
Speaker 2Modi's approach is like we try not to get too into it and like make the page be for positivity .
Speaker 4It has to be , because otherwise you get dragged down , of course , and then like this one angle and then no matter honestly , no matter what you say or how you explain it , people have their opinions right , you're not gonna get through to anyone , damned if you don't .
Speaker 2Yeah . And then yeah , yeah I can't .
Speaker 4It's so upsetting for me and like depressing to be in that with people online Like I have enough . I'm dealing with offline .
Speaker 3That like it's just , it's so , like you know , some like Indonesian bot it's just like you go like I get a lot of hate , quote , unquote , and I go and I look at who it's from and it's like zero followers , zero posts .
Speaker 1Yeah , yeah , yeah , we have that . I just delete that . Yeah , I just delete it . Or you get to it before , just to delete it .
Speaker 3I delete all of it yeah .
Speaker 4I just there's no point in talking about any of it , and it also just divides people more .
Speaker 3Yeah .
Speaker 4I just don't . It's so divided in this country and in the world Like it's insane to me .
Speaker 2I get the impression that your fan base is like more queer than Modi's fan base .
Speaker 4I have a huge queer fan base .
Speaker 2And then Jewish than Modi's fan base . I have a huge queer fan base Right and so that has right now been leaning toward this like left area . No , my fans aren't like that .
Speaker 4I mean I'd say they're like such a wide variety . Yeah Well , my fans aren't . Like it's really the truth . They don't get offended a lot . I mean they're watching my comedy .
Speaker 2Yeah , that's a good point .
Speaker 4You know . So it's like I'll say I am very edgy , very like , I'm not like a safe comic . So they all know that and they still follow me and I think they know that I'm like , not like I'm so open and yeah because you take a shot at yourself and then take a shot at them . Yeah .
Speaker 1So it's not like you're just banging them out . You know against them You're taking a shot at yourself and taking a shot at them . So there's a balance . It's a big , it's an important element in comedy when you're doing crowd work .
Speaker 3Yeah , does Zoe come and watch your shows ?
Speaker 4Yeah , I mean Zoe . I've been taking Zoe on stage . The first time I took zoe on stage she was six months old . I brought her onto stage at caroline's and I said who left this baby in the bar area ? And she was so you remember how gorgeous she I mean black full head of black hair and like blue , I mean she's stunning .
Speaker 4So she was just like this , like and um , and then she used to sit . When I did gotham and caroline's list , she would sit on stage with me and just play with the chord when she was a toddler . Isn't that adorable that's so cute and now she does . She's done videos with me . She's come on stage with me and sang .
Speaker 4She's um , she's amazing and she watches the act too right now she's at the point where she's a freshman in college and her friends are TikTok fans of mine , so it's crazy . Oh wow , this has been a different level now , but the other ones could give a shit that I'm a . They're little Right , right . They're like I'm like I have a show and they're like come on . Like they don't you know , that's so sweet .
Speaker 2That's so sweet . I'm so happy for you with that , oh .
Speaker 1God , thank you , thank you , good for you , good for you . I'm so happy I could . There's comics that you just want . Nothing but great for them .
Speaker 2It's like , and Jessica is one of them .
Speaker 4I just want to just blessings and happiness and just , oh , you're so good . This would be part of the show , I guess , where we like start to plug , like some of your tour dates .
Speaker 3But there's so many . Well , I mean the Beacon one is it's , there's a pre-sale now .
Speaker 1April 24th . I don't know when this is coming . It's going to air a little later .
Speaker 4You're fine , A few weeks , so yes it's in April 25th , but my whole website has my tour dates , which is I mean my jessicacursoncom .
Speaker 1We'll put it in the description . Spell it for them . No , Jessica .
Speaker 4Jessica K-I-R-S . As in sandwich Salmon O . As in .
Speaker 1Operation .
Speaker 4Operation Orgasm An N as in nachos .
Speaker 1Nachos .
Speaker 4Okay , I'll plug it in K-I-R-S-O-N .
Speaker 1I'm telling you people right now what I always tell all my fans Be the friend that brings the friends to the comedy show . Bring your friends to one of Jessica's shows . You will just plot laughing , the kind of laughter where your stomach hurts , your face hurts and it's just . It's a fun night and it's better than sitting in a restaurant and ordering Caesar salad with chicken . It's just go see her . She's amazing . She's one of those comics that like , if we're at the comedy cellar and Leo will see her on TV , he'll run downstairs to go see her .
Speaker 4You're so cute .
Speaker 1He's so cute .
Speaker 4I know , really , I think I'm straight .
Speaker 1JessicaKirsoncom , and you're online on your Instagram .
Speaker 4Yeah , I'm going to link everything . Jesse Kirson , j-e-s-s-y-k-i-r-s-o-n , and then TikTok . Jessica Kerson , I have a YouTube page .
Speaker 1Yeah , enjoy it Like deep dive into Jessica . You will thank us . We have to thank A&H Provisions , number one , kosher Glot meat . They deliver . They're amazing , clean , beautiful it's . You're so proud that this is kosher . At um kosher dogsnet , they have the best hot dogs in the world , even goyim get their hot .
Speaker 1They're so good , we'll get set to send . We'll get set to send you a package . And um and whites Luxembourg , the law firm that not only does well , they do good , super philanthropic . They're friends of ours . Arthur Luxembourg , a friend , been on the and he's been invited to come back to the podcast . We love him . And , of course , randy , his wife , who listens to the podcast to tell him what we talk about , and she's going to love you .
Speaker 3And they are at whitesluckscom .
Speaker 1Yes , and we thank you so much for listening .
Upcoming Comedy Shows and Gratitude
Speaker 1Happy New Year still . You can still say that , and it's not late , I know , but I say Happy New Year to like Passover , so that's it . I love all of you , we love all of you . See you at a show . I have shows , we have a lot of shows , we have a lot of shows .
Speaker 1We have a lot of shows too Modilivecom . We have St Paul . Minnesota , we have Skokie , we have Montreal . Two shows November 30th , december 1st Denver , denver , denver is going to be off the charts lit December 5th . We're so looking forward to that show . And there's more at MortyLabcom , yes , and the Beacon shows . We have a few tickets left on the 17th , 18th and 19th are sold out . Jessica , thank you so much for being in my life .
Speaker 4Thank you for having me . I love you all .
Speaker 1You can come back on .
Speaker 4Yeah , I'll come back on any time I'm around more now Okay .
Speaker 2Okay , we'll take you up on that .
Speaker 4Thank you , bye , bye .