From The Archive: Michelle Buteau

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This week, Krista brings back her 2020 interview with comedian, actress, writer, and producer Michelle Buteau. At the time of this conversation, Buteau had just released her comedy special, Welcome to Buteaupia, and was on a non-stop run of projects -- hosting The Circle, appearing in films like Always Be My Maybe, and in TV shows like First Wives Club and Tales of the City. She was also just a few months away from publishing her autobiographical book of essays, Survival of the Thickest.

Cut to 2024, and Buteau has turned that book into a hit Netflix series by the same name. She's also expanded her hosting resume, adding two seasons of Barbecue Showdown to her list.

In this interview, Buteau takes us back to the very beginning of her comedy career and talks about the challenges she faced along the way. She reveals when she feels most vulnerable on stage, how her parents felt about her pursuing her passion, and some of the unsolicited advice she’s received from her audiences. She also shares her advice for young comedians starting out, and what she’s learned by observing the extraordinary group of women she’s worked with in her career to date.

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