Stand-up comedy is in the midst of a cultural resurgence – with new specials available seemingly on every streaming service on a weekly basis.

A new book from a Portland author goes deep on the trail blazing women who burst onto the scene, grabbed the mic and changed the medium for the better.

On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, Amy Wang chats with Shawn Levy.

Levy was film critic at The Oregonian from 1997 until 2012. And he’s written a slew of books. His latest, “In on the Joke,” looks at the original queens of stand-up comedy.

Amy and Shawn talked about those pioneering funny people, how their work still resonates today and what modern day female comics are shaking up the industry.

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