Atsuko Okatsuka

Yeah, and so I think With that I built a lot of like love and empathy for people humans totally and so and connection Yeah, totally and so I think Never wanting people to feel like an outsider like they don't belong and

was huge for me.

And so I think that's why punching down isn't something I even gravitate towards.

Even when I'm like drunkest and I'm having fun, that's not even the way I would joke.

Yeah, I think in the beginning I did a little bit, but then, you know, I was like,

Yeah.

When I when I started, I think there was still a little bit of a tendency to want to like punch down on yourself.

And so there was some there was some punching down.

I was trying when I was trying different jokes, like making fun of like your own Asian-ness or something.

Right.

I have done that, actually, because I wanted to fit in or, you know.

It was hard.

I started like 16 years ago.

And there weren't that many Asian American comedians at that time.

So there would be times where... One time I was hosting a show.

And I brought up a comedian friend of mine.

He was South Asian.

And we knew each other though.

So I brought him up.

And then he immediately... Because he wanted to fit in too, I think.