She will be the first to tell you that she’s not okay, but you’ll be the first to laugh at it.
The midwest prom queen runner-up who traveled to the city of lights to find the success she always wanted, Leah Rudick is best known for her viral videos as the “Wealthy Woman” and the “Love Coach,” which have amassed over one million followers and 20+ million views and likes across social media. She is the co-creator/co-star of the critically acclaimed web series Made To Order, which was featured on New York Observer, Indie Wire and named one of “6 Brilliant Web Series” in Marie Claire.
She began performing comedy in NYC with her sketch duo Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting. Her comedy festival appearances include Edinburgh Fringe, New York Sketchfest, Fringe Festival NYC, Los Angeles Comedy Festival, Charleston Comedy Festival, East to Edinburgh at 59E59, Capital Fringe Festival in DC, Women in Comedy Festival, FRIGID New York and Out of Bounds. The duo had been critics picks in Time Out New York, Washington Post, and Charleston City Paper. They were listed as one of the twenty-five funny people who should have their own television show by Complex Magazine.
Rudick would later move to Los Angeles and immediately became a strong female presence in comedy clubs among her peers, showcasing her talents on Don’t Tell Comedy, HBO, and SF Sketchfest. Leah’s stand-up was also featured on Comedy Dynamics’ Coming to the Stage.
Her new comedy special, Spiraling, sees Rudick dive into many topics, including marriage, family psychics & anxiety attacks in the Cracker Barrel through the wide-eyed lens of her Midwestern upbringing. Leah shares her quirky yet approachable brand of weird girl comedy in her debut hour stand-up special.
Recently, Leah had an opportunity to sit down and chat with We Own The Laughs’ Tyson Paul to discuss her process of creating a comedy special, why she decided to share her mental flaws hilariously with the world, and her thoughts on the current state of comedy.
Because of the age of social media, you can find out immediately what someone thought of your material. So tell me about the process of writing and working on this special. You’re best known for your viral videos, but is it more challenging or less challenging to film a comedy special when the audience is already familiar with certain aspects of your material?
My social media growth over the past two years has been a huge gift to my comedy career, so in that sense, it made certain elements of filming a special less of a challenge. I was able to sell out the theater with fans who were excited to be there and be a part of the taping. Sometimes, it can be challenging when an audience knows you for one very specific thing they saw on social media, and they come to a show expecting only to see that. But generally, even if that’s the case, I think people leave feeling like they got what they wanted and then some. My favorite thing is when people approach me after a show and say, “I love your videos, but I loved you even more as a standup!” I feel very grateful that my social media success came when it did, 15+ years into my doing comedy because it aligned with me feeling prepared and ready to be seen. I had many years to hone my craft and develop my voice.
Were you inspired by any comedy specials from legendary stand-up comedians that you used to help put together “Spiraling?”
I don’t know that there were any specials that I used to inspire Spiraling specifically, but there are so many comedians that I love who have inspired me along the way as a comedian: Maria Bamford, Ali Wong, Jessica Kirson, Laurie Kilmartin to name a few. Also, because my background is sketch comedy, I love comedians who do incredible onscreen character work: Jennifer Coolidge, Catherine O’Hara, and Jane Lynch—basically, every comedian from every Christopher Guest movie.
I always wondered, with comedians, how do people in your life react when they find themselves worked into your material? For instance, the special includes mentions of your husband and your parents. Is it awkward for them, or does it just depend on the person?
It definitely depends on the person! Luckily, I have an incredibly supportive family who have put up with me making jokes about them onstage for years. If it’s awkward for them, they do a great job of hiding it (I’m sure it’s awkward for them). My brother Andrew is also a stand-up comedian, so between the two of us, I think our parents have heard it all. They’re probably numb at this point. And my husband has always been my biggest supporter. My jokes involving him are more at my expense than his, anyway. We have a very open dialogue about my comedy, whether the jokes are specific to him or not. I love to hear his feedback after a show; he is one of the funniest people I know. But overall, when I talk about my family on stage, it is rooted in love, and I hope they see it as such.
In the special, you discuss having significant anxiety. How did you approach talking about that, which is very challenging for many people, but also using humor as a way many of us confront our challenges? How therapeutic was this comedy special for you?
I think framing any kind of human struggle within the comedy context is therapeutic for both the comic and the audience. A room full of people laughing together is a deeply healing experience, especially today. Anxiety has always been a part of my life, so those themes are, of course, going to show up in my writing. It’s very cool to connect with people who come to my shows and share these struggles because they can often make us feel isolated. You’re the only one in your brain. But when you can bring a room full of people together to laugh and connect over how fucked up all of our brains are in so many similar ways, that definitely is therapeutic.
Editing while working with a premier streaming service can sometimes be complicated for comedians. Would you share your experience working with Comedy Dynamics?
I loved working with Comedy Dynamics. It was a wonderful collaboration. They have a stellar team across the board, from the set designers to editors to graphic artists. I loved how hands-on it felt every step of the way. We went through a few rounds of edits, and they did an amazing job of bringing my vision to life.
What is the most essential thing you want viewers to take away from “Spiraling?”
I hope it teaches men to be better at cunnilingus. Just kidding. Kind of. I want people to have a great time watching it and connect to the themes in a way that makes them laugh and feel less alone!
Comedic Fabrication has been one of the most significant topics among the media and comedy community in 2023. What are your thoughts on the issue?
For me, the best comedy is always pulled from the truth. I always sense that when I say something onstage that isn’t a reflection of that, the audience can feel it, and it’s less funny. But all comics embellish or adjust sometimes for the sake of jokes, and that’s just part of the form.
Now that the special is completed, how has your life been?
Life has been great! I’m back to writing, touring, shooting videos, and planning my next hour!
Are you already back on the road, thinking about the next hour? Are you interested in doing more acting in the future?
I am back on the road! In fact, I’ve been on the road pretty much non-stop for the past year. Now that the first special is under my belt, I’m working on building out a brand new hour. And yes, to more acting! My background is in theater and acting, so that’s always been part of the path alongside comedy.
What advice do you have for younger comedians currently in the process of completing their own debut comedy special?
I guess I would say don’t be too precious about anything. Making the thing is always better than not making the thing, and there are so many ways to have agency over your career and work these days. Get your voice out into the world!
Where are some of the upcoming shows that fans can see you live?
I have some great shows coming up in Ohio and Texas, and I’ll be in St. Louis performing on New Years Eve.
My tour calendar is continually being updated on my website –www.leahrudick.com/tour.
Lots of fun shows and cities are coming up in 2024!
Checkout Leah Rudick Spiraling Comedy Special on Comedy Dynamics HERE
Follow Leah Rudick’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: Leah Rudick
Personal Website: Leah Rudick
Youtube: Leah Rudick
