118: The Secret That Led to a Career in Comedy

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Today, I am really excited to share with you all my conversation with my very special guest, Shay Dominguez, about her journey breaking free from the confines of her small town in Illinois to become a comedian, rapper, and workshop host in Los Angeles and eventually Atlanta. Hers is such an important story to hear, especially since it can inspire others to abandon secrets (and the desire to hide parts of ourselves) that no longer serve them. Together, we explore the notion that ‘the sooner you realize you're not going to be for everyone, the closer you are to freedom’, and the transformational role this concept has played in Shay’s life.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Shay opens our conversation by detailing her comedy career, her experience at Upright Citizens Brigade and The Groundlings, and the subsequent burnout that turned her towards a rap career.  </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">She provides context by discussing her childhood knowing she was gay at seven and not coming out for just over a decade.  She details the rather traumatic experience that is being punished for being gay.  This issue led her to transfer colleges, face underlying insecurities, and feel like a burden in romantic relationships.  After graduating as an athlete with a marketing degree, her improv career and the consistent practice that the industry requires skyrocketed her confidence.  She’s grateful for comedy and the power of laughter in that it has allowed her to talk about her life and process her experience as a lesbian. Shay has learned to live her life in a way that definitely moves her closer to freedom, and she shares her inspirational  story of how she accomplishes this with all of us here today.</span> <p> </p> <p><strong>The Finer Details of This Episode:</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Common disdain for professional careers</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">S