JRE 1715 · June 27, 2024

Jessica Kirson

comedybusinesspodcast

Who is Jessica Kirson?

Jessica Kirson is a standup comedian, television producer, and host of the "Disgusting Hawk" podcast. "The Call Girls," a prank call compilation album Kirson recorded with fellow comedian Rachel Feinstein, is available now.

Topics and Timestamps

01Jessica Kirson discusses her comedy career spanning decades in the standup scene
02Discussion of 'The Call Girls' prank call album with Rachel Feinstein and how it came together
03Jessica talks about hosting the 'Disgusting Hawk' podcast and podcast production
04Comedy writing process and how Jessica develops material for her standup
05Stories from the comedy circuit and working as a television producer
06The dynamics of collaboration with other comedians in the industry
▶Jessica Kirson introduction and her background in comedy0:00:00
▶Discussion of 'The Call Girls' prank call album and collaboration with Rachel Feinstein0:15:30
▶Jessica talks about hosting the 'Disgusting Hawk' podcast0:35:00
▶Comedy writing process and developing standup material0:55:00
▶Stories from touring and the comedy circuit experience1:15:00

The Show

Joe Rogan sits down with standup comedian and TV producer Jessica Kirson in JRE 1715 to talk about her long career in comedy and her various projects. Kirson has been grinding in the standup scene for years, building credibility as both a performer and someone working behind the scenes in television production. She brings a ton of energy and charisma to the conversation, which is exactly what you'd expect from someone who's spent decades making people laugh.

One of the main topics they dive into is 'The Call Girls,' a prank call compilation album that Kirson created with fellow comedian Rachel Feinstein. This project represents a unique collaboration where both comedians lean into absurdist humor through recorded prank calls. The album showcases the kind of unfiltered, anything-goes comedy that's become more accessible as distribution barriers have fallen. Kirson explains how the project came together and what goes into creating something like this in the modern comedy landscape.

Kirson also talks extensively about her podcast 'Disgusting Hawk' and the podcast space in general. She discusses how podcasting has changed the comedy industry and given comedians more direct access to audiences without needing traditional gatekeepers. The podcast allows her to have longer form conversations and explore topics in ways that standup doesn't always allow.

Throughout the episode, Kirson shares insights into comedy writing and how she develops material. She talks about the iterative process of testing jokes, refining them, and understanding what lands with audiences. There's also discussion about the comedy circuit itself, the grind of touring, and what it takes to build a career in standup that lasts decades.

The conversation touches on her work as a television producer, which gives her a unique dual perspective in the entertainment industry. Being both a performer and someone who understands production gives Kirson insights that many comedians don't have. She's seen the industry from multiple angles and understands how content gets created, packaged, and distributed across different platforms.