Meet Sovereign Syre | Screenwriter/Stand Up Comedian/Podcaster

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

Hi Sovereign, why did you pursue a creative career?
It wasn’t really a choice. I started working (under the table) when I was 12 years old. I remember distinctly, wiping down a toilet at a cafe where I worked when I was sixteen, and thinking, there has to be more than this. I was always a strong writer, my mom still has poems I wrote for her when I was four. Still, I didn’t think of writing as a career because it seemed very impractical. When I was applying for colleges, I wanted to submit as a psychology major, a lot of friends told me I was level headed and great at giving advice. But when I went to apply, my mother, and my girlfriend at the time, were both like, NO! YOU HAVE TO BE AN ENGLISH MAJOR, YOU’RE A WRITER!

So I submitted under that major. I ended up getting scholarships and grants for writing all the way through grad school. So I guess they were right.

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 am a screenwriter. I am a stand up comedian. I am a podcaster.

When I started I was in the adult entertainment space. No one really crossed over. When I sold a screenplay to Netflix, everyone was pretty sure I was the first public facing sex worker to have signed a deal with Netflix for a scripted series.

I have a history podcast ILL REPUTE! that profiles difficult women throughout history, we’re currently a top 50 podcast in history on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Pretty rare air. That’s harder to achieve than it seems like.

The main thing I’ve learned in the industry, is that nothing can compete with hard work. You have to be self starter an you have to believe in the value of what you’re doing before anyone else does.

Miracles do happen.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The Griffith Observatory
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Santa Monica Pier
The Hollywood Sign
Watts Tower
Santee Alley
Catalina Island Helicopter
Angel’s Flight

Mignon Restaurant
Cole’s Restaurant
Silverlake Ramen
Sonoratown

The Comedy Store
The Magic Castle
The Last Bookstore
Rodeo Drive

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My first shout out is to my parents, who were heroin addicts, for getting sober to give me a better life. My next shout out is to Karen Larka, the first teacher to see my talent. My next shout out is to all the professors that saw my ability. Next in line would be Dana Vespoli, who I met in the adult entertainment industry, who always believed in me and encouraged me to develop my skills outside of the industry. Next would be Dave Foley for encouraging me to do stand up. Next after that would be Melanie Vesey for booking me for my first stand up spot at The Comedy Store. Next would be Chris Cuffaro for encouraging me to go into podcasting. After that would be Peter Berg, who discovered me and led to the sale of my first screenplay. There are so many people I would thank. All of my friends and family for their unwavering support and their belief in me, when I didn’t have it for myself. I’m so grateful to all of them.

Website: https://sovereignsyre.net

Instagram: https://instagram.com/sovereign_syre

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sovereignsyre

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@illreputepod

Other: https://illreputepodcast.com