We had the good fortune of connecting with MONNA and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi MONNA, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?
Morning routines and intentional acts of self care have been integral components for any success I’ve found. One of the small changes I made that made the biggest impact in my mental health improving and my productivity increasing was in 2020 when I decided to purchase an alarm clock.

I realized that my phone being my alarm clock was detrimental because when I would go to turn off the ringer, I would immediately see messages and notifications. And if I WASN’T seeing messages and notifications- that was almost worse because I felt myself becoming dependent on the serotonin that came from seeing how many updates I had. Immediately I checked that as not healthy and decided to combat it, I would just buy an alarm clock online and not look at my phone until I had cared for my own needs and felt ready to engage with others.

Another huge help to me was the epiphany that no one was entitled to my time, energy or attention- and that those were special, valuable assets that were mine alone to give out on my own terms. Not responding to messages right as I received them was incredibly freeing for me because it not only allowed me more balance and focus, it helped me to craft more thoughtful responses which helped form more genuine connections.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a stand up comedian and the owner of Claws Out. I am very outspoken about my personal mental health journey and I use my platforms to create safe spaces. I am very proud that Claws Out Comedy has been endorsed by a licensed psychotherapist and has worked with many non-profit organizations. Claws Out is a diverse, inclusive space for everyone because I believe there is no more powerful feeling than feeling like you belong exactly where you are. I have also worked my tail off to elevate female and femme performers through the live events, the podcast and the record label because: women are funny.

Stand up comedy is often not taken seriously as an art form but for me, it’s no joke. I’ve poured my life into words and have found a lot of healing through comedy. There’s unmatched psychological value in being able to take your life experiences (even the negative ones…maybe *especially* the negative ones) and view them through the lens of humor. Being able to process these experiences through comedic writing to make them not only palatable but relatable to a crowd is a very special and impactful thing.

I’ve learned a lot of hard lessons along the way and I’m sure I’ll learn many more.
Perhaps the most helpful lesson that I could share with other is this- and it applies both personally and professionally- you have to advocate for yourself, no one else is going to.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Whenever my friends come to visit I like to make our round to the museums!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Carol Burnett, Fran Drescher, Betty White and all of the phenomenal women in this industry who paved the way for me

Website: monnacomedy.com // clawsoutcomedy.com

Instagram: @monnacomedy // @clawsoutcomedy

Youtube: @MONNAcomedy // @ClawsOutComedy

Other: tiktok: @monnacomedy // @clawsoutcomedy

Image Credits
Arnie Diaz Photography

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