Big Think

How I found belonging in the most unfamiliar territory | Atsuko Okatsuka


Listen Later

Asian-American comedian Atsuko Okatsuka shares her experience as an immigrant, navigating personal insecurities, and ultimately finding belonging in comedy.

**In this episode,** comedian **Atsuko Okatsuka** reflects on identity, perfectionism, and feeling *not good enough*. She shares her experience growing up as an immigrant with a schizophrenic mother and how her grandmother secretly brought her to the U.S., separating her from her father.

Atsuko explores people-pleasing, fear of disappointment, and how pain has shaped her. Through comedy and self-reflection, she confronts the past and finds connection.

The weight of cultural dislocation, family turmoil, and the constant quest for perfection can trap us in roles we don’t truly belong in. Asian-American comedian Atsuko Okatsuka—armed with a raw immigrant perspective—shares how early missteps with English and personal familial hardships left her feeling less than enough.

About Atsuko Okatsuka:Atsuko Okatsuka is an Asian-American comedian, writer, and actor born in Taiwan and raised in the U.S. She is known for her stand-up special The Intruder and her viral “drop challenge.” Her comedy explores identity, belonging, and personal insecurities. She has performed on HBO, written for TV, and appeared on various comedy platforms, establishing herself as a distinct voice in the stand-up scene.

Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes

-----------------------------------------------------------06:30-19


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Big ThinkBy bigthink

  • 1.8
  • 1.8
  • 1.8
  • 1.8
  • 1.8

1.8

37 ratings


More shows like Big Think

View all
StarTalk Radio by Neil deGrasse Tyson

StarTalk Radio

14,327 Listeners

Intelligence Squared by Intelligence Squared

Intelligence Squared

775 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,097 Listeners

Making Sense with Sam Harris by Sam Harris

Making Sense with Sam Harris

26,332 Listeners

The Quanta Podcast by Quanta Magazine

The Quanta Podcast

530 Listeners

The Michael Shermer Show by Michael Shermer

The Michael Shermer Show

935 Listeners

Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas by Sean Carroll | Wondery

Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

4,183 Listeners

Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe by iHeartPodcasts

Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe

2,344 Listeners

Within Reason by Alex J O'Connor

Within Reason

1,638 Listeners

The Origins Podcast with Lawrence Krauss by Lawrence M. Krauss

The Origins Podcast with Lawrence Krauss

507 Listeners

Why This Universe? by Dan Hooper, Shalma Wegsman

Why This Universe?

392 Listeners

The LIUniverse with Dr. Charles Liu by theliuniverse

The LIUniverse with Dr. Charles Liu

70 Listeners

Cool Worlds Podcast by coolworldslab

Cool Worlds Podcast

100 Listeners

The Astrophysics Podcast by Paul Duffell

The Astrophysics Podcast

54 Listeners

Crash Course Pods: The Universe by Crash Course Pods, Complexly

Crash Course Pods: The Universe

507 Listeners