When New Yorker, comedian, investigative journalist, and Tales of Taboo podcast host Ali Weiss first dipped into the podcast scene, she realized that there was a hunger for brutal honesty in the digital community, and with her first podcast, Health is Hell, she embarked on a journey to cultivate that sense of transparency. While she thought she might end up in theater after spending her undergraduate years at Chapman University in Southern California, she took a turn into content creation to chase that sentiment. 

In the spirit of talking about things that truly matter, she’s joining me on today’s podcast to discuss growing up in the great big city of New York, how she landed in the mental health podcast scene, and the way in which people use shock value and/or brutal honesty on the internet to stay relevant. 

 

“We have become obsessed with feeling as though we matter.” – Ali (24:49)

 

As comedians, public speakers, mental health advocates, and podcast hosts, Ali and I talk through what it looks like to tell your story and how sharing your triumphs and struggles with the world can make for an intense experience. Despite the difficulties she faced in creating Health is Hell, it informed how she built her current podcast, Tales of Taboo. 

 

“Even if you are an extremely honest person online, you’re still only showing one small part of yourself.” – Ali (29:11)

 

Finally, Ali dives into her experience growing up in New York, how privilege and money is often regarded in the mental health community, and ultimately, her abortion experience. She boldly analyzes how money and privilege influenced this recent procedure for her and why she felt she had to share her story. 

 

“Almost all of my trauma came from what happened when I stepped outside onto the city streets every morning and walked to school by myself and everything that happened in those hours that my parents were not around. And no amount of money can protect you from that.” – Ali (37:00)

 

“Did I ever feel remorse? No. And I think a lot of that had to do with just realizing from the get, like realizing from the day that I found out that I was pregnant, my body is my body, and it doesn’t matter what anybody else has to say about it… The only person who knows what’s best for my body is me.” – Ali (1:03:15)

 

In This Episode: 

• (1:10) Ali’s current podcast and how it came to life
• (5:20) The role anonymity plays in her podcast
• (9:17) Exploring the line between true honesty and the shock jock approach
• (19:00) What it means to be easily offended and the possible consequences of free speech on the internet 
• (22:49) Unpacking everyone’s desire to matter 
• (28:02) Ali’s reputation during Health is Hell and how she had to pivot with Tales of Taboo
• (31:20) Money and privilege in the mental health discussion
• (38:00) Growing up in New York and the dangers children face in this day and age
• (53:41) Holding yourself accountable through struggles with mental health
• (54:58) Ali’s experience with abortion
• (1:04:58) Why Ali chose to share her story

 

Our Guest

Ali Weiss is a comedian, investigative journalist, podcast host, and mental health advocate that believes in the power of true honesty. Her podcast, Tales of Taboo, explores a series of taboo topics with anonymous guests that are listeners just like you! 

Outside of her work in Tales of Taboo, she’s a quick-witted and sharp comedian that is currently writing a one-woman show. If you’re interested in listening to or engaging with her content, you can find her at any of the links below.

 

Resources & Links

Off The Cuff

• https://www.offthecuff.fm/
• https://www.youtube.com/c/OffTheCuffwithDannyLoPriore
• https://www.instagram.com/1and1otc/
• https://www.instagram.com/dannylopriore/

Ali Weiss

• http://aliweissworld.com/podcast
• https://www.instagram.com/aliweissworld/
• https://www.tiktok.com/@aliweissworld
• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/solo-my-abortion/id1457365096?i=1000556195882