Cole Escola

Well, when you first were in New York, you weren't sure that you wanted to be a performer. What then inspired you to become one, to start making viral videos, which is what you did first?

Well, when you first were in New York, you weren't sure that you wanted to be a performer. What then inspired you to become one, to start making viral videos, which is what you did first?

Well, it was a couple things. There was – I was miserable. I was truly suicidal. I was bulimic. And I was walking around near Bloomingdale's, and I remember I was having these thoughts about not wanting to be alive. And then I started having those thoughts in a character's voice. A voice not unlike my grandma and her friends. And I came up with this character, Joyce Connor, who was a...

Well, it was a couple things. There was – I was miserable. I was truly suicidal. I was bulimic. And I was walking around near Bloomingdale's, and I remember I was having these thoughts about not wanting to be alive. And then I started having those thoughts in a character's voice. A voice not unlike my grandma and her friends. And I came up with this character, Joyce Connor, who was a...

Well, it was a couple things. There was – I was miserable. I was truly suicidal. I was bulimic. And I was walking around near Bloomingdale's, and I remember I was having these thoughts about not wanting to be alive. And then I started having those thoughts in a character's voice. A voice not unlike my grandma and her friends. And I came up with this character, Joyce Connor, who was a...

really sort of cheery, innocuous middle-aged woman who just kept having to put off her suicide because so many things kept popping up over the weekend. And that, for some reason, was like this huge release valve. Like, it both... allowed me to feel what I was feeling, but also relieved me from feeling burdened by what I was feeling.

really sort of cheery, innocuous middle-aged woman who just kept having to put off her suicide because so many things kept popping up over the weekend. And that, for some reason, was like this huge release valve. Like, it both... allowed me to feel what I was feeling, but also relieved me from feeling burdened by what I was feeling.

really sort of cheery, innocuous middle-aged woman who just kept having to put off her suicide because so many things kept popping up over the weekend. And that, for some reason, was like this huge release valve. Like, it both... allowed me to feel what I was feeling, but also relieved me from feeling burdened by what I was feeling.

My guest is Cole Escola. Again, if you or someone you know is considering suicide, you can call or text the number 988. More after a break. This is Fresh Air. Well, you were part or maybe still are part of what New York Magazine called at the time a wave of new queer comedy with comics like Bowen Yang and John Early and all the people you've been mentioning in the 2010s, I guess.

My guest is Cole Escola. Again, if you or someone you know is considering suicide, you can call or text the number 988. More after a break. This is Fresh Air. Well, you were part or maybe still are part of what New York Magazine called at the time a wave of new queer comedy with comics like Bowen Yang and John Early and all the people you've been mentioning in the 2010s, I guess.

My guest is Cole Escola. Again, if you or someone you know is considering suicide, you can call or text the number 988. More after a break. This is Fresh Air. Well, you were part or maybe still are part of what New York Magazine called at the time a wave of new queer comedy with comics like Bowen Yang and John Early and all the people you've been mentioning in the 2010s, I guess.

Were there places where queer comedians would perform outside of what could be considered quote unquote mainstream comedy clubs, whatever that means?

Were there places where queer comedians would perform outside of what could be considered quote unquote mainstream comedy clubs, whatever that means?

Were there places where queer comedians would perform outside of what could be considered quote unquote mainstream comedy clubs, whatever that means?

I actually kind of predated it a little bit. I was emceeing folk shows as characters at dive bars. I just sort of went where I was invited or where I felt like I could get in. I never sought out... new ground to break. I was just like, I want to do this thing that I want to do. Where can I do it? There? Okay. I'll make it good. And hopefully if I make it good, people will come.

I actually kind of predated it a little bit. I was emceeing folk shows as characters at dive bars. I just sort of went where I was invited or where I felt like I could get in. I never sought out... new ground to break. I was just like, I want to do this thing that I want to do. Where can I do it? There? Okay. I'll make it good. And hopefully if I make it good, people will come.

I actually kind of predated it a little bit. I was emceeing folk shows as characters at dive bars. I just sort of went where I was invited or where I felt like I could get in. I never sought out... new ground to break. I was just like, I want to do this thing that I want to do. Where can I do it? There? Okay. I'll make it good. And hopefully if I make it good, people will come.

I imagine that the shows that you were doing as being places where friends would gather and try to make each other laugh and maybe be silly or absurd as much as possible.

I imagine that the shows that you were doing as being places where friends would gather and try to make each other laugh and maybe be silly or absurd as much as possible.

I imagine that the shows that you were doing as being places where friends would gather and try to make each other laugh and maybe be silly or absurd as much as possible.