Is laughter truly the best medicine? Navigating modern times with social media, politics, cancel culture, and life after a pandemic has become challenging.
On So Funny It Hurts podcast, self-proclaimed trauma queen and stand-up comedian Mikalah Gordon interviews your favorite funny people and explores the trauma that made them that way.
Laugh til you cry or cry til you laugh, conversations about mental health, may just be what the doctor ordered.
Mikalah Gordon: Mikalah Gordon made her entertainment debut as a Top 12 contestant on season 4 of American Idol. Audiences fell in love with her powerful voice and unique stage presence, and she’s been hitting all the right notes ever since. Her run on Idol earned her a record deal with famed judge Randy Jackson on Interscope Records, making her a household name. In addition to her vocal success, Mikalah has made her mark on the LA comedy scene with her edgy stand up performances, headlining at The Comedy Store, and The Laugh Factory. The spicy comedienne has starred on the WB sitcom “Living with Fran”, with Fran Drescher, a field correspondent for “The Tyra Banks Show” and “The TV Guide Network”, and served as a co-host on “American Idol Extra”. Mikalah has also proven a knack for the dramatic starring on the CBS hit show “The Unit”. She was recently a featured resident singer with Post Modern Jukebox in Los Angeles, and now you can catch this soulful chanteuse Wednesday-Saturday at The Cosmopolitan Of Las Vegas Hotel’s Rose. Rabbit. Lie. In addition to heating up the stage in Vegas, Mikalah is leaving her mark on the YouTube community. Check her out as Melania Trump on “Inside Melania” and host of “Idolatry”, where she gets to chat with former “American Idol” coaches and contestants.
This week, when Pinky Patel and Mikalah sat down to record, they couldn’t help but reminisce about the cricket-eating dare, setting off a cascade of laughter that echoes through their memories. That’s the magic of humor—it not only connects us but serves as a compass through the maze of cultural expectations and the journey toward self-acceptance.
This episode is all about those moments, the ones that stitch us closer and remind us that authenticity, especially in the face of social media’s relentless pressure, is a form of rebellion we should all partake in. They then strip back the layers of performance to reveal the vulnerabilities that come with standing in the limelight.
Growing up amid the rich tapestries of Italian and Jewish culture, she found strength in comedy to face insecurities and stage fright. As Pinky and Mikalah share their stories, we uncover the dualities of our cultural identities and the sometimes harsh realities of family expectations versus personal aspirations.
The conversation is a tribute to the arts, the emotional rollercoaster of leaving stable careers for uncertain passions, and the incredible support systems that buoy us along the way. Their laughter carries us into deeper waters, where they tackle topics that often lurk in the shadows.
They address the complexities of motherhood and mental health, the transformative journey through therapy, and the cultural stigmas that can shroud these discussions in silence. We celebrate the bonds of friendship, explore the importance of setting boundaries for personal well-being, and embrace new chapters in life with open arms.
From hysterectomies to heartfelt fan connections, this episode is a testament to the resilience and joy that come from supporting each other, laughing together, and embracing the full spectrum of life’s experiences.
