Absolutely Not Get Thee to Therapy with Nicole Byer
Mar 11, 2026
Nicole Byer, comedian and podcast powerhouse known for bold crowd-work and stand-up, joins to trade hilarious stories from the NYC comedy scene. They talk pole dancing for confidence, disassociating onstage, touring joy, crowd work specials, retail and hospitality survival jobs, and dissect a voicemail about sexy workplace dreams. Quick, funny, and candid.
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Why Madison Works For Crowd Work
- Nicole taped her crowd-work special at Comedy on State in Madison, Wisconsin and praises the club's audience and treatment of comics.
- She contrasts loving Madison to hating Buffalo, describing Madison as one of the best comedy crowds that sells out and pays comics fairly.
Buffalo Bomb Made Me Rethink Comedy
- Nicole describes a brutal show in Buffalo that made her consider quitting comedy because the crowd didn't respond like other great markets.
- She links the poor reception partly to local sports disappointment and says some cities just 'don't like comedy.'
Comedians Embrace Personality Quizzes As Play
- Heather and Nicole note many performers never worked corporate jobs, so corporate tests (Enneagram, assessments) feel novel and entertaining, not formative.
- Both comedians enjoy personality quizzes for validation and team-fit curiosity despite lack of corporate experience.