Alex Harshaw told a room full of elite NPR interns he was a standup comedian. He had never done standup in his life. In this episode of First Mic, Alex shares how a panic move at an internship icebreaker in Washington DC forced him into his first open mic — with 14 coworkers watching him bomb. From growing up on Comedy Central Presents to having Chappelle specials on his iPod Classic, Alex breaks down what actually got him hooked on comedy and why "having fun" is the most important advice he can give. What you'll learn: Why going somewhere "nobody knows you" can backfire spectacularly The difference between being funny conversationally vs. on stage How to keep showing up when open mics get rough Why making yourself laugh matters more than the audience Alex also talks about his Yellow Springs connection to Dave Chappelle and the magic of Comedy Central Presents that started it all. 🎙️ Where to find Alex Harshaw: YouTube: Alex Harshaw Instagram: @alexharshaw All socials: @alexharshaw 📍 Filmed at Rehab Tavern, Columbus OH 💬 Have you ever told a lie that you then had to make true? Drop it in the comments!