Jenny Yang Is Finally Making Her First Stand-Up Special
July 16, 2026 · 41 min
Why listen
A comedian opens up about grief, IVF, and why loss finally pushed her to make her first stand-up special.
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In this episode
- How personal loss can become the creative fuel you never asked for
- What growing up in an immigrant family teaches you about pressure and identity
- Why chasing the next goal can quietly hollow out the work you love
- How comedy became a path through grief rather than an escape from it
About this episode
Writer, actor, comedian, and podcast host Jenny Yang joins Tawny Platis to make friendship bracelets while talking about pizza, conspiracy theories, immigrant family expectations, overachievement, and learning how to enjoy the process instead of chasing the next goal.
Jenny shares why she's finally creating her first stand-up special after years of personal loss, including two miscarriages, multiple rounds of IVF, and the death of her father. She reflects on growing up in a Taiwanese immigrant family, how becoming hyper-independent shaped her career, and why comedy became both an outlet and a path toward healing.
Along the way, the conversation takes plenty of delightful detours; from Neapolitan pizza and backyard pizza ovens to student government, ADHD, true crime, and the surprising connection between making people laugh and winning elections.
Jenny talks about:
Why she's finally recording her first hour-long stand-up special
Processing grief after years of infertility and loss
Growing up in a Taiwanese immigrant household and becoming fiercely independent
The hidden emotional cost of being the "overachiever"
Learning to enjoy the creative process instead of obsessing over outcomes
Her obsession with pizza, pasta, and Italian food culture
How student government unexpectedly launched her comedy career
Why she believes understanding humanity (even its darkest parts) makes us better people
Making friendship bracelets while unpacking perfectionism, purpose, and joy
Bracelets from this episode benefit the Women's Reproductive Rights Assistance Project (WRRAP), with 100% of proceeds donated to support their work.
Remember, every bracelet has a story, and every story helps a cause.
Follow Jenny Yang:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennyyangtv/Web: https://www.jennyyang.tv/
Follow Tawny:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tawnyplatis/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tawnyplatisWeb: https://tawnyvoice.com/
About String and Tell with Tawny Platis and Kristen DiMercurio
New episodes every Thursday Buy a bracelet: https://www.ebay.com/usr/stringandtell Voice actors Tawny Platis and Kristen DiMercurio challenge each other to voice act in deliberately miscast performances each week on their show String and Tell ("read this scene from Twilight but perform Bella as Jennifer Coolidge")
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