On today’s episode of Off the Cuff with Danny LoPriore, actress, writer, and stand-up comic Chase O’Donnell joins me to discuss the juxtaposition of having anxiety and working in the entertainment industry. Furthermore, we look at the changes comedy has undergone from the ‘90s to the present.

“I feel like, with where comedy is going now, we're all like super neurotic, you know? And I think we're just a little more expressive about it now. Like you kind of have to cater to the evolution of our audience. Yeah, it's true in the nineties. Like it was all very much like observational comedy, and that's been done. And now it's like going into your feelings and “what's real” comedy.” (8:17)

We chat about how death can be a dark but beneficial motivator, the importance of staying true to yourself, how appeasing your inner child can still be authentic to who you are today and the pros and cons of flexing your comedic chops in the open mic circuit.

“That's very insightful. And honestly, just hearing this makes me feel better about that questioning I do have of like, “am I just doing this because younger me wants it? And is it really what I want?” But if younger me did want it, that's when we are the most authentic and true to ourselves.” (16:18)

We also chat about topics such as handling imposter syndrome as a performer, how guilt is “an illusion,” and the power of saying “no.” Chase then provides me with key insights into the struggles of women in modern dating, her personal struggles dating as a female comic, her experience with stigmas surrounding female comics, and what she looks for in a potential partner.

“So now that I'm aware, I've been having to be selfish for the first time. And if someone asks me something, I have to; it's like a four-step process. I have to go, “why am I scared to say no? What am I scared of?” And then usually it's like, “I'm scared they're not going to like me. I'm scared. I'm not going to be the teacher's pet anymore.” Like whatever it is, it's so silly. And then I write out like, what's the action that I need to do for me, not for them. For me, it's that I need to say no and I need to take a day at home. And then I have to do the action. So when I go through these, like, I'm really having to break it down because I'm so ingrained to be a people pleaser and just say yes. And I have like an instant reaction, and my body gets like, okay, I have to do it. And I have to slow down and be selfish and tell myself what it is that I need for the first time I'm doing this. [You have to] It is a game changer to be selfish.” (31:02)