Host Nicholas Braman interviews Juliana Heng, who left a career in accounting in Malaysia to pursue stand-up comedy and, through performing, better understand their identity. Juliana describes being drawn to comedians’ unfiltered expressiveness, struggling and bombing early on, and using comedy as an escape from an unbearable corporate job before briefly living on savings and taking odd jobs like driving Grab and deliveries. They explain how it took about a year to find their footing by choosing the right topics and learning joke structure, but also how difficult it is to make a living from stand-up. Juliana shares discovering they are autistic after the label was raised at work, later confirming it with professionals, and how naming autism on stage improved audience connection. They discuss masking, being queer and neurodivergent, finding community at Edinburgh Fringe, leaving an emotionally unsafe family home, and defining success as being happy, healthy, and well-loved.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mxjulianaheng/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mxjulianaheng 

Podcast links:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2h9gsrWKH9C1KY1OzR12kr?si=2a4d19970632465f

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/before-we-get-there/id1775182252

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beforewegettherepodcast/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nicholasbraman

Website: https://nicholasbraman.com/podcast

 

00:00 Introducing Juliana Heng

03:36 Escaping Accounting Life

08:28 Quitting Job And Money Reality

12:16 Realizing Autism Through Comedy

16:20 Naming It And Empowerment

22:26 Labels Without Limits

24:33 Edinburgh Fringe Audience Magnet

32:09 Family Pressure And Control

40:35 Redefining Success Checklist

43:14 Where To Follow And Farewell