Human 43: Lisa Curry

Comedian and comedy writer

Lisa Curry is a comedian and TV writer based in Los Angeles. She has written for NBC, TruTV and Comedy Central, where she was a staff writer on The Jim Jefferies Show. During an 8-week tour of Europe in 2019, Lisa performed 51 shows in 9 countries, headlined two festivals, and recorded her debut album “Alive For a While”, which topped the charts following exclusive release on Sirius XM. Lisa is the current opening act on Jim Jefferies’ ‘Moist’ tour, and hosts a podcast called ‘Long Story Long’ on Sirius XM. Her work has been described as ‘smart, dark, and deeply personal’.

Lisa is a human mammal, here are her thoughts:

What brings you the most joy in life?

My dog, Luna. Comedy. Travelling. And succeeding beyond my imagined enemies’ wildest dreams.

What does success mean to you?

Having the respect of my peers. Being able to call my own shots. And money, lots and lots of money.

What do you see as your greatest achievement so far?

I taught my dog to know left from right.

What are you most grateful for?

I am endlessly grateful that Facebook and other social media platforms weren’t around when I was in high school.

What is something most people don’t know about you?

I love peanuts so much I once ate them until I puked.

Who or what has had the biggest influence on your life?

Watching people around me waste their lives in a miserable job has scared me into working harder.

What do you regret?

Being mean to a handful of people who didn’t deserve it… and not being mean to some people who absolutely did deserve it.

Has there been a defining moment in your life? Can you tell us about it?

I don’t think there is one moment in particular, but for the purposes of this blog I’d say that travelling internationally at a young age really shaped me. When I was a freshman in high school, I went to China for 2 weeks with a small group of adults. I know my mum had to run around to get my passport and visa, but for me, it was of course really easy and fun. It set me up for a lot of travel in my adult life and I’m very grateful for that.

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A rock star-actress-astronaut.

If you could pick one thing to be an expert at instantly, what would you choose?

Painting. I’m pretty good at it now but I’m a long way from being Artemisia Gentileschi.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks. Most other people are dumb and uncool.

What is the most important thing we can teach kids in school?

Be kind and learn as much as you possibly can.

If you could have a conversation with anyone, living or dead, who would you choose and why?

My sincere answer is a real downer, so I’ll say Jeff Bezos. I’d ask him what the fuck his problem is and why, with the unbelievable fortune he has, does he not increase his employees’ wages and help more people who are suffering. The billionaire space race is so corny.

What do you doubt most?

The existence of heaven.

When did you last have a significant change of mind?

Today.

What is the role of luck in our lives?

Luck helps propel preparation towards your goals. And in America, luck is what keeps you from getting shot by a madman in public.

Do you have a favourite quote? What is it? Why do you like it?

“Il faut aller voir”

It is a French quote roughly meaning, “we must go”. It was Jacques Cousteau’s life credo and he meant it to encourage people to get out and explore the world.

What would you do with your life if you had unlimited financial resources?

Travel with people I love and do everything in my power to end poverty, hunger, disease… and all the other things Jeff Bezos is too ugly to care about.

If you could have the definitive answer to a single question, what would you ask?

I’m extremely petty, so I’d ask if there’s a god only for the euphoria I’d feel for being right that there is no god.

What concept/fact/idea should every human on the planet understand?

Decency. Kindness.

Do human beings have free will?

Yeah, until they’re horny.

Do you believe in God?

No. I believe in spirits, I’ve seen some.

Could we be living in a simulated universe?

I’m counting on it.

Will the continual development of technology have a net positive or negative influence on humanity?

Technology can only be as moral as the people using it, so the question should be: in the future, will humanity be good or bad? I believe the answer is both.

What is the single greatest achievement of humanity?

Language. And humour.

What do you see as the biggest existential threat to humanity?

Itself.

What does it mean to live a good life?

To be happy for at least part of every day. Also, to be nearly drowning in money.

What is a good death?

One you’re not there for.

What question should I have asked you?

What’s your venmo? It’s olympianlisacurry.

Thanks for your time, Lisa!

Twitter: lisa_curry

Website: lisacurry.net

Instagram: olympianlisacurry

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