Angie Martinez IRL - Wanda Sykes: Navigating The Comedy Scene & How To Accomplish Career Longevity

Summary

Podcast Summary: Joe and Jada – Angie Martinez IRL

Episode: Wanda Sykes: Navigating The Comedy Scene & How To Accomplish Career Longevity

Release Date: June 5, 2026
Host: Angie Martinez (with Andrew Martinez)
Guest: Wanda Sykes

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Episode Overview

This episode features respected comedian and Emmy award winner Wanda Sykes in an in-depth IRL (In Real Life) conversation with host Angie Martinez and cohost Andrew Martinez. The discussion explores Wanda’s journey in comedy, her enduring career, authenticity on (and off) the stage, evolving family dynamics, navigating race and identity, and strategies for staying relevant and true in a rapidly-changing entertainment world. Wanda reflects on lessons from her upbringing, the grind of perfecting comedy in pre-social-media circuits, and the ongoing balance between personal life and public persona.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Life & Comedy Origins

[03:27–12:24]

• Wanda grew up as an outspoken, observant child who often embarrassed her family with candid remarks.
• Her comedy roots trace back to being a natural observer with no filter as a kid, leading to punishment, and eventually being paid to stay out of adult conversations.
• "As a kid I would say things maybe out of turn...her friend would come over and I would tell her, like, her wig was crooked." – Wanda Sykes [06:15]
• First performed stand-up at an amateur night after working as a contracting specialist at NSA. Despite being introverted, felt an immediate sense of purpose on stage.
• "I knew right away. Right away." (about knowing comedy was her calling) – Wanda Sykes [11:57]

2. Navigating Fear, Bombing, and the Addiction of Comedy

[12:24–16:37]

• Wanda recounts the emotional high of early success—and lows of bombing.
• Learning from flops and the painful experience of waiting days for another chance to redeem herself.
• "It's horrible. Horrible feeling. You can't sleep. You just think everybody knows...your food doesn't even taste right." – Wanda Sykes [14:32]
• Credits her era (“brick by brick, city to city”) for audience building and the rigorous honing of craft, versus today’s instant social media feedback.

3. Comedy’s Power & Responsibility: Laughter as Medicine and Social Commentary

[20:31–24:44]

• The release audiences experience when a comedian nails a truth, especially in heavy times.
• Balancing act between addressing serious topics (politics, social division) and serving as an escape.
• "When I can hear, like, the relief or the release in the laughter...like, oh, I so needed this." – Wanda Sykes [21:28]
• Deliberates how much political/social content audiences really want when world events are overwhelming.

4. Boundaries in Comedy: Roasts, Jokes, and What’s ‘Off-Limits’

[24:46–29:54]

• Discusses recent roast controversies (Kevin Hart roast, George Floyd jokes), emphasizing comedy’s duty to “be funny, first.”
• "That George Floyd joke was not funny. ...It was such a stretch, such a reach." – Wanda Sykes [25:09]
• Draws lines at lazy, racist, or unoriginal jokes – "Do better." [25:55]
• Personal approach: Enjoys being roasted by friends but not interested in being the subject of a public roast by strangers.

5. Family, Identity & Blackness in a Mixed Household

[30:04–34:13]

• Candid takes on her life as the only Black woman in a white household, day-to-day differences in “play,” and cultural expectations.
• "White people play all the time. I'm like, damn, y' all play a lot. Just make up shit. Just playing. And it would annoy me." – Wanda Sykes [30:49]
• Navigates everyday caution and generational trauma, even in simple settings (e.g., not wanting to sit in the “wrong” section at a tennis match).
• Family dynamics: Kids now want less stage time in her act, but wife Alex enjoys being referenced, “as long as I’m nice to her.” [34:21]

6. Marriage, Growth & Learning from Relationships

[35:00–36:57]

• Reflects on first marriage to a man, then finding true compatibility with her wife.
• Discusses personal growth, evolving views on parenthood, and how comfort in a relationship changes the outlook.
• "It's just growth and it just made sense. She was just, you know, your person. My person? Yeah." – Wanda Sykes [36:48]

7. Aging, Taking Care of Family, and Honesty About Life’s Stages

[37:24–39:52]

• Humor about aging (“Gassy. That is the headline that’s what I'm getting out of 60s.” [37:28]), and the wisdom of learning what matters.
• Open about the realities of caring for elderly parents, both the challenges and the blessing of still having them around.

8. Craft, Advice, and the ‘Legacy’ of Wanda Sykes

[44:42–49:04]

• Advice to aspiring comedians: Edit, get to the point, be present, and always pivot if the room isn’t buying it.
• "You have to let the room settle...get their attention before you go into material." – Wanda Sykes [45:16]
• Emphasizes writing and sharing something personal, so audiences feel they genuinely know you ("leave a piece of you behind").
• Outlines process for building a special: Tour for two years, collect, and test material in the world first. [47:33]

9. Public Persona vs. Private Self

[47:51–49:23]

• Outside expectations vs. reality: Resents always being expected to perform her “on-stage” self in public.
• "That's not who I am, you know, what's wrong with you?" (on people expecting “angry” persona from Curb Your Enthusiasm) – Wanda Sykes [48:16]
• On stage: No filter; Off stage: Empathetic, sensitive, and caring.

10. Reflections: Pride, Legacy, and Being Authentic

[49:26–end]

• Greatest pride: The longevity and steady “climb” of her career, still loving the work, still challenging herself.
• Laments today’s hyperpolarized audiences—less willingness to laugh across lines.
• Proud of representing intersectional identities (Black, woman, gay, comedian) “just, matter of factly.”
• On legacy: Considers it when reviewing projects that might define what she leaves behind for family.
• What she prays for: "Health and protection for my kids... for everyone." – Wanda Sykes [57:10]
• Faith and authenticity as sustaining forces: "Being authentic is just so much easier. I don’t need that stress, trying to be someone else." [58:54]
• If God texted her? "You might want to read your Bible a little bit more... Put that Wordle down. How about turn to Romans?" – Wanda Sykes [59:56]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On first discovering her comedic voice:
  "I knew right away. Right away." [11:57]
• On the necessity of bombing:
  "Your food doesn't even taste right... It doesn't go away until you have a good show." [14:35]
• On laughter as release:
  "When I can hear...the release in the laughter...like, oh, I so needed this." [21:28]
• On content boundaries in comedy:
  "It's gotta be funny. That George Floyd joke was not funny...it was such a stretch, such a reach." [25:09]
• On handling family and authenticity:
  "Being authentic is just so much easier. I don’t need that stress, trying to be someone else." [58:54]
• On what she’d want from God if He texted:
  "You might want to read your Bible a little bit more. Put that Wordle down, how about turn to Romans?" [59:56]

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Highlighted Timestamps

• [03:27–12:24] – Wanda’s childhood and comedy beginnings
• [14:32] – The pain of bombing
• [21:28] – The “release” of laughter
• [25:09] – Discussing comedic boundaries (Kevin Hart roast/George Floyd joke)
• [30:49] – The cultural collision of “play” in her household
• [36:48] – On finding “her person” in marriage
• [45:16] – Comedy advice to newcomers: Edit and pivot
• [49:26–50:12] – Pride in career longevity
• [57:10] – What she prays for most
• [58:54] – Living authentically
• [59:56] – If God texted Wanda

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Final Takeaways

• Wanda Sykes credits her career longevity to steady growth, embracing flop moments, and a relentless commitment to authenticity.
• She’s equally at home handling tough truths on stage or reflecting on the unpredictable, blending comedy with social commentary and family realities.
• The episode is rich with practical advice for creatives, reflections on identity, and plenty of sharp humor—a prime example of Wanda as both comedian and cultural observer.

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Transcript

[Wanda Sykes]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.

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[Andrew Martinez]

What are your real life pet peeves?

[Wanda Sykes]

Whenever I see lobster Mac and cheese on a menu, I'm like, I don't want to eat here.

[Andrew Martinez]

Why?

[Wanda Sykes]

It shouldn't exist. It's not a thing. When I see lobster Mac and cheese. It makes me think, 1. You don't know how to make Mac and cheese.

[Andrew Martinez]

Then you need to put a lobster in.

[Wanda Sykes]

You got to put a lobster in it, and you're ruining lobster.

[Amy Eric]

Hey, guys.

[Podcast Host]

This episode is brought to you by Boost Mobile.

[Andrew Martinez]

Trailblazing comedian, Emmy winner.

[Podcast Host]

She is a fearless voice in entertainment. Today's guest has spent nearly four decades redefining comedy through sharp wit and cultural commentary. She is now back with her newest Netflix special, legacy, Wanda Sykes in real life Today.

[Wanda Sykes]

Thank you. Thank you, thank you.

[Andrew Martinez]

Hi, Wanda. Angie. Thank you for this.

[Wanda Sykes]

Oh, thank you.

[Andrew Martinez]

You.

[Wanda Sykes]

Thank you.

[Andrew Martinez]

I. I went down a Wanda Sykes rabbit hole the other day.

[Wanda Sykes]

Okay.

[Andrew Martinez]

And I want to thank you.

[Wanda Sykes]

All right.

[Andrew Martinez]

Because I had a really good time. It's funny because I know you. For so many years, watching your. Your work for so many years, you just seem like this staple in our lives. But then I realized I don't really know, like. But you're also private in a weird way. Like, you. You walk this fine line of, like, y' all know me. You know exactly who I am.

[Wanda Sykes]

Right.

[Andrew Martinez]

But also, y' all don't know shit. At the same time, I feel like you walk that line.

[Wanda Sykes]

I'm somewhat, you know, introverted also.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

How does that happen?

[Andrew Martinez]

As a comedian?

[Wanda Sykes]

We are. We can. Yeah. I think it's because we're always observing, you know, so we kind of, like, sit back and just. And just watch instead of, you know, running the room or whatever. So. Yeah. And I can get a little awkward, too, I guess, in social settings. Yeah. I do not like to schmooze and mingle and all that.

[Andrew Martinez]

I enjoy comedians so much on the pod because of that reason. Exactly. Because you are observers and so you sit. Do you judge us a little bit? You do.

[Wanda Sykes]

I'm getting better with it. I'm trying. I'm trying not to, but.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah, the habit of that. Your job as a great comedian is to look around, point out the shit that we see, but we can't really wrap our minds around.

[Wanda Sykes]

Right.

[Andrew Martinez]

But you're doing that all day, every day.

[Wanda Sykes]

Right? Somewhat. I mean, I can turn it off.

[Andrew Martinez]

You can?

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah, I. I can turn it off, but.

[Andrew Martinez]

But can you?

[Wanda Sykes]

I. I can. And. And I think that's why I like doing things like jigsaw puzzles. But I have to have something else, you know, going on.

[Andrew Martinez]

To keep your mind.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah, to keep my mind from. From, you know.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

Looking around and.

[Andrew Martinez]

Because I would imagine living life like that all the time. It's good because you're, like, self aware you think things through, but also it keeps you in your brain all the time. Right. Like your mind is like always animal.

[Wanda Sykes]

Pisces.

[Andrew Martinez]

What does that mean?

[Wanda Sykes]

Oh, Pisces were in our heads a lot.

[Andrew Martinez]

All the time.

[Wanda Sykes]

All the time, yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

So when did this happen to you? Like, what age do you, like, at what point in your life as a child or a young person do you think, does it come clear to you

[Wanda Sykes]

that this, that you're good at this? I've been like this a long time. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Your whole life.

[Wanda Sykes]

As a kid, I would get in trouble because my mom said that I would talk too much, you know, And I think what she meant, like, as a kid I would say things maybe out of turn.

[Andrew Martinez]

You had an opinion?

[Wanda Sykes]

Oh, I had opinions. And also I was very observant. I would say things that would, like, embarrass them. Like, you know, her friend would come over and I would tell her, like, her wig was crooked, you know, and stuff like that.

[Andrew Martinez]

You're a kid.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah, yeah. And they weren't going, your wig is crooked. Yeah. Like, why is your part over here? You know, stuff like that. And it was embarrassing. My. So they would, whenever they had company over, they would send me over to my grandmother's. They didn't even want me in the house when they had the company because they thought I was going to. But yeah, that was like a little, you know, like a little time bomb. So they, they would send me away.

[Brittany J.]

But what is that?

[Andrew Martinez]

Is that natural or is that like environment or is that. I don't know, is that a God given gift?

[Wanda Sykes]

Like, I didn't have, I guess I didn't have a filter, you know, I, I was too young to know. Oh, you're not supposed to say these things, you know, but people would laugh, I'm sure. Yeah. Like, to me, I had to, I had to set up, but no punchlines, you know, I would just give it to them straight. So after, you know, several spankings and all, I had to, you know, then I got. It got better. I guess I became more entertaining because they would pay me to go to my grandmother's instead of, instead of just, you know, punishment. Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

I was going to say, when did somebody say, you know what, maybe there's some use for that?

[Wanda Sykes]

I guess, like in high school, you know, I wasn't disruptive in class. But they, they definitely would, you know, say, like, I was the class clown and, you know, and they would, you know, say, you should be on stage and things like that. But I didn't, I never thought of it like that, because, you know, that

[Andrew Martinez]

you probably didn't know anybody.

[Wanda Sykes]

I didn't know anybody on stage, you know, except for, you know, some uncles, whatever, were preachers, you know, that's, you know, that was. That's about close to show business. Yeah. Yes. And then in college, the same thing. Wow. They, you know, people told me I was funny, but. Yeah. It wasn't until, like, when inside did

[Andrew Martinez]

you say to yourself, like, maybe.

[Wanda Sykes]

I think when I had a real job, I was working at nsa, and I just said, this is not what I'm supposed to be doing. I just felt it in my gut, like, I don't belong here. And I've heard about a talent show on the radio, right? Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

How scary.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah. I said, comedy comedians. And I said, you know what I'm saying? It's an amateur thing. I'm gonna try it. And I wrote jokes, auditioned. They put me on the show and killed it. Yeah. I didn't win. I had a great set. Yeah, I had a great set. Tony woods actually won. He was, you know. And.

[Andrew Martinez]

Wow.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah. And the host, Andy Evans, he. He was like, what. Who are you? And I've never seen you at the comedy club or anything. What. You know, you were like, I work over there. I was like, first time? Yeah. I was like, yeah, I got a job, you know. And he said, well, no, you gotta come out to the clubs. And that's when I started working on it. Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

Amazing. Wait, so what were you doing at nsa?

[Wanda Sykes]

I was a contracting specialist, basically. I was. I shopped, I bought stuff. Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

And you were like, this sucks.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

Or you liked it

[Wanda Sykes]

if for a job in the government at nsa. I did enjoy that job, but then. But after a while I was like, this is not. This is not what I'm supposed to be doing.

[Andrew Martinez]

So you see this thing for this amateur comedy night, and nothing you in you is scared about that or nervous.

[Wanda Sykes]

I didn't know any better. You know, I'd never been to a comedy club.

[Andrew Martinez]

But you.

[Podcast Host]

Are you like.

[Andrew Martinez]

Because you said you're, like, reserved, like, a little. Sometimes a little.

[Wanda Sykes]

Right.

[Andrew Martinez]

So to go out, like, there's no fear. There's no, like.

[Wanda Sykes]

Because I didn't know any better, you know, I didn't have. I didn't have all the information. Only I've, you know, I watched Comedy Comedians on tv and, you know, they go on stage and they tell jokes and people laugh. That's all that I. That's the information I had. So I was like, okay, I'm gonna go out here Tell jokes and people will laugh. And it happened. So I was like, okay, cool. It wasn't until I started going to the clubs and watching people bomb and, you know, that's. That's. The fear kicked in. Like, ooh, this could. This could be. Go horribly wrong here. Like, what am I subjecting myself to? This is. I am nuts. Yeah. Yeah. And that's when. Yeah, that's when the fear kicked in. And that's when I started having, you know, bombs, you know, doing bad shows.

[Andrew Martinez]

But, like, the mind is so wild.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

When you're, like, dumb and fearless.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

You're capable of greatness, like, anything. Because you're not scared.

[Wanda Sykes]

Right.

[Andrew Martinez]

And the idea of, like, getting on a stage and telling jokes and then all these eyeballs looking at you, waiting for you to be funny is terrifying. Like, to me, that would be. So I would be so scared out of the gate.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

But the fact that you were like, the book.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

Who knows? I'll go try this out.

[Wanda Sykes]

Right. And the audience feels that. So the audience saw me on stage, like, oh, she's comfortable.

[Andrew Martinez]

She don't care.

[Wanda Sykes]

She don't care. So I can laugh. But when you're on stage and you're, you know, you're a little timid, and they sense that and they're like, nah,

[Andrew Martinez]

okay, so you're on the stage the first time and you're kind of killing it, clearly.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

Because everybody's thinking, who is she? What's happening to you in that moment? Are you feeling it?

[Wanda Sykes]

Are you like, yeah, the light bulb went on. It's like, oh, this is what I'm supposed to be doing.

[Andrew Martinez]

You knew?

[Wanda Sykes]

I knew right away. Right away.

[Andrew Martinez]

Wow, that's a great. People search their whole life. They don't know.

[Wanda Sykes]

Right.

[Andrew Martinez]

You get that one moment and there it is.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yep. And it all made sense.

[Andrew Martinez]

That must have felt amazing.

[Wanda Sykes]

It did. Until, you know, I go back to the club and bomb. Then you're like, oh, maybe this is not, you know. But I stayed with this. So I said, no, this is. Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

It didn't discourage you enough to stop.

[Wanda Sykes]

Right, Right. So it all made sense.

[Andrew Martinez]

What were you joking about then?

[Wanda Sykes]

Oh, God, it was, you know, it was like Seinfeld type jokes. It was, you know, a lot of observations. And I remember the first joke was about the. Remember that cardboard, the sunglasses, the auto shades, the thing? You put it in your window. Well, there's instructions on the side of it. So I'm like, who needs these instructions? You can't figure out how this works. It tells you to Remove it before starting your car. Really?

[Andrew Martinez]

That's good. That's good.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah. Right? Look at you, writing jokes, jokes, little jokes, jokes.

[Andrew Martinez]

Leaving the NSA job, writing some jokes. And that was how many years ago? Jesus.

[Wanda Sykes]

Oh, wow. That was what, 90? No, in the 90s. That was 80. 80. Yeah, I started.

[Podcast Host]

80s.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

I started. My first time on stage was like, 87. 88. 87.

[Andrew Martinez]

Okay. So then they say, oh, she's good.

[Wanda Sykes]

And you're.

[Andrew Martinez]

You're going out, you're doing the shows, and that moment's a real moment in people's lives. People miss that moment, too, because the fear will kick in or the expectation will kick in. And think about nowadays, right? You didn't have social media, Right. You didn't have the fear of, like, I'm gonna go on that stage and people in my job are gonna see me on Instagram.

[Wanda Sykes]

Ah, yeah. Right.

[Andrew Martinez]

And I don't know, I just think sometimes people don't even get the engine going because

[Wanda Sykes]

fear, they're crippled by fear. Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

Crippled by fear.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah. And it's also the fear of, like I said, everyone. The fear of failure. But sometimes it's like they don't put the work in because I think now things come so, so quickly. Right. So. But back then, like I said, we didn't have all that.

[Amy Eric]

We.

[Wanda Sykes]

You. We had to go city to city and build the audience. Brick by brick. Yep. Brick by brick.

[Andrew Martinez]

Wow. So, yeah, and there's the part about that and taking that time. Is that you. You honing your craft, right? You're learning how to do it. You learn to flop. Feels like.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

What does that feel like, though, when you go out and it's not good.

[Wanda Sykes]

Oh, it's horrible. Horrible feeling.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yes.

[Wanda Sykes]

You can't sleep. You just. You think everybody knows, you know, you, like, you just like. Yeah, I know. Yeah. You saw that. People look like. What are you talking about? You know, it's just horrible. Your food doesn't even taste right. You're like. It's. It doesn't go away until you have a good show.

[Andrew Martinez]

So it's like an addiction in a way.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah. Do you feel like that becomes an addiction for you?

[Wanda Sykes]

Absolutely.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, you got to have it. It's like, I got to. I got to get to the stage. It was nothing worse than bombing on, like, a. On like. Like a Friday or. Or Thursday. Because back then, you know, we only had open mics on. It was like, Wednesdays. Wednesdays and Thursdays, sometimes Friday. So if you bomb Friday, you couldn't get back on stage until Wednesday. So your, Your, your weekend and everything. Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

You probably in a bad mood with everybody.

[Wanda Sykes]

Nasty. Yep.

[Andrew Martinez]

Oh, that's terrible. That is terrible.

[Wanda Sykes]

It's just.

[Andrew Martinez]

It's been a long time since you had one of those, right? Or.

[Wanda Sykes]

Well, yeah, it, it has.

[Andrew Martinez]

Or does that show up in different ways for you? Like, now, as a seasoned comedian, you don't bomb. But.

[Wanda Sykes]

Right.

[Andrew Martinez]

This things maybe not work out the way you like, do you? How do you handle something?

[Wanda Sykes]

Ooh, like ticket sales. Yeah, like, yeah, yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

If.

[Wanda Sykes]

That. If you look out and it's like, man, they had to close the balcony. It's like, oh, shucks. You know, it's kind of that same type of feeling. Yeah, that, that, that feeling. Yeah, that. Or sometimes. Yeah. Or if you like, I have a new bit and I'm like, oh, this is going to. This is really going to work. And. And it doesn't. You're like. But. But I. It doesn't bother me as much because I, you know, I know I'm trying something new and I know how to fix it, and I know, you know, and so it's. To me, it's, it's growth. So I kind of enjoy that. But. Yeah, right. Ticket sales are the things that.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah. I'd imagine for everybody because it's rejections

[Wanda Sykes]

like, damn, nobody wanted to see me today. You know, it's like, what the hell? Yeah. Like, damn.

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[Daniel Cormier]

apply this is Daniel Cormier from the Daniel Cormier Show. This podcast is sponsored by Total Wireless, the official wireless partner of ufc. All UFC fighters know power doesn't wait in the octagon or outside of it. You either make the move or you miss the moment. That's why you need a network that's as powerful as you are. With Total Wireless, you get unlimited 5G data keeping you on all the apps action from the walkouts to the knockouts. You'll never miss a moment. That's coverage that you can count on for every single round. So when the moment happens, you're not catching up. You're already there. Now that that's a total power move. In the ufc, power isn't given, it's taken. So make your total power move today. Visit totalwireless.com or stop by your neighborhood. Total Wireless Store 5G access requires a 5G capable device in a 5G service area. Monthly rates on the Total Base 5G unlimited plants for new subscribers applies only to the monthly rate for your plant. Additional terms apply. See website for details.

[Amy Eric]

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[Diff Eyewear Announcer]

Okay, so can we talk about Diff Eyewear for a second Because I'm a little obsessed. They have the cutest sunglasses and prescription frames and honestly the vibe is like whatever you're feeling that day, there is a pair for it. Chill day. Got you going out. Got you. And every purchase gives back, which I love. Go to diff eyewear.com and define your style. That's diff eyewear.com youm're welcome.

[Podcast Host]

Let's get the party started.

[Andrew Martinez]

We just interviewed Patti LaBelle. We have Patty on the pod.

[Wanda Sykes]

Okay.

[Andrew Martinez]

Such a g. I love her, but she talks about early in her career, knowing that moment, same moment you're talking about. She had a moment like that she did Somewhere over the Rainbow, and she put it out, and everybody responded in this crazy way. And she was like, oh, man, this is. I think I'm actually good at this. Like, whatever.

[Wanda Sykes]

But she said she.

[Andrew Martinez]

She went out and she got a standing ovation, and she said she been chasing standing ovations since that time. Like, she works for the standing. For the standing ovation.

[Wanda Sykes]

Wow. So is that why the shoes?

[Andrew Martinez]

She's 80. Yeah, maybe.

[Wanda Sykes]

Probably.

[Podcast Host]

And she's 82.

[Andrew Martinez]

And I feel like she's still. Still working for the standing ovation. And so part of that makes me feel like, oh, that's exhausting. But then also like, maybe that has something to do with why she's 82 and has so much life and so much joy and exuberance and passion still.

[Wanda Sykes]

All that.

[Andrew Martinez]

Because it's that thing. Whatever the thing is, that. Fuel. Fuel. And then. Yeah. So I guess for you, it's. It's the. Is it the laughter? Is it the connection? Is it. I don't know, people feeling. Seen you feeling like you did well, like, what is the thing that you feel like with the.

[Wanda Sykes]

Definitely the laughter, but it's a. I can. I can almost like, I can hear. When I can hear, like, the relief or the release in the laughter, you know, like when you, like, they're laughing, but it's like, oh, I so needed this.

[Andrew Martinez]

I feel seen.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah. Yeah. When I. When I get that type of. Type of laugh, it's. Yeah, that. That. That feels great.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

Because it's. It's. You know, it feels like I'm giving them medicine, you know? Oh. And they really release. It's like, all right, cool. This is.

[Andrew Martinez]

You're welcome. Yeah, you're welcome. Especially now under the. And you have always, like, politics and the state of the world has always been part of your conversation. And I think that is one of the. It's just one of the hardest things for people to deal with right now. Everybody's confused. What kind of world is this?

[Wanda Sykes]

Right.

[Andrew Martinez]

What is happening to our country? There's so much fear, frustration,

[Wanda Sykes]

depression. Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

This people.

[Wanda Sykes]

All that shit. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

And you don't even know how to

[Andrew Martinez]

talk to people anymore.

[Wanda Sykes]

Right.

[Andrew Martinez]

It's, like, scary.

[Podcast Host]

It's Scary to have conversations.

[Andrew Martinez]

And I feel like you go out there on that front line and you crack a joke about it.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

Which people.

[Wanda Sykes]

I mean, they want it. They. And I had a hard time with that as far as, like, how much of it to, you know, for it to be in the show. You know, I did have to. Have to, like, really, like, think about that. Because at one point it was like, is this too much? You know, because we're just bombarded with this crap all day. Do they want to just laugh about, you know, silly stuff, or do they want to actually handle this real. The real truth, you know, what's going on? And I noticed that when I would just go, you know, hey, you know, we know everything sucks, so let's just, you know, let's just have some fun. Then I would see in their faces like, no, that's not. This isn't what you do, Wanda. This is. No, we want. We want what you do. Talk about. Let's talk about it. And then I would. Some shows, I would really just go off, and then I could see their face, like, okay, now let's move on. You're doing too much now. Let's move on. You know, So I had to find that balance. But people really do appreciate it, though, that, you know. Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

Because it's like. Like you said, it's like a release of like, oh, God, I've been holding all that stuff inside.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

And then how do you release, then? Is it part of release for you?

[Wanda Sykes]

It is. It is. And. But I have to find that. That space of, okay, is this funny? You know, because you could go easily, go on a rant, and there's no joke. So it's like, okay, unless you find a joke, you know, you can't talk about it. You gotta. It has to be a joke. Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

It has to be funny. Yeah. Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

I'm sure everybody's asking me about the Kevin Harros that's been the topic of conversation.

[Wanda Sykes]

Right.

[Andrew Martinez]

Is when. Like, when is it okay to say certain things right in the frame of a joke? Right.

[Wanda Sykes]

And so it's gotta be funny.

[Andrew Martinez]

Is that the rule for you?

[Wanda Sykes]

It's gotta be funny.

[Andrew Martinez]

It's gotta be funny.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah. That George Floyd joke was not funny.

[Andrew Martinez]

Not funny.

[Wanda Sykes]

No. And it was such a stretch, such a reach.

[Andrew Martinez]

But I gotta be honest, I don't think a lot of that shit was funny.

[Wanda Sykes]

A lot of it was not funny. It was.

[Andrew Martinez]

Fat bitch was funny. I didn't think. You're a hobby.

[Wanda Sykes]

It's not even jokes.

[Andrew Martinez]

I didn't think any of that shit was funny.

[Wanda Sykes]

A lot of it was not. I'm like, that's not a joke.

[Andrew Martinez]

And I got a little bit of a dark sense of humor.

[Wanda Sykes]

Like, I could go dark. Me, too. Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

You know what I'm saying? You can say some low shit, but it is funny.

[Wanda Sykes]

Right?

[Andrew Martinez]

But I think everybody has their own

[Wanda Sykes]

lines of, like, what's okay for it? It was just a lot of lazy, you know, just about being black and just racist and just a lot of lazy shit. It's like, come on, it's a rose. Be funny.

[Andrew Martinez]

Do better.

[Wanda Sykes]

Do better.

[Andrew Martinez]

Come on. Do better. Word. Do better.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

It's tricky because, you know, we want to. We want Kev to do well.

[Wanda Sykes]

Love, Kevin. Yeah. Make. Come on. There's so much you can joke on Kevin, you know? I mean. Right, Right. You would have some good Kevin jokes.

[Podcast Host]

You.

[Wanda Sykes]

I mean, come on. Kevin is. He just needs attention. He wants attention. He's. He. He would do a. He would do an ad for the Hunter virus. He would.

[Daniel Cormier]

He.

[Andrew Martinez]

He. There's plenty of places.

[Wanda Sykes]

I mean, come on. Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

Would you. Would you let somebody roast you?

[Wanda Sykes]

No.

[Andrew Martinez]

Right.

[Wanda Sykes]

I don't need it. I don't care, you know?

[Andrew Martinez]

No, but it's just so brutal. Even the one. Even the Justin Bieber one I saw and the Tom Brady one, right? And I think, why do people. Why would you sit in that chair?

[Wanda Sykes]

Right? And here's the thing. I have friends for that.

[Andrew Martinez]

That they say to you.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah. I have good friends that roast you out. Who roast the shit out of me. Keith Robinson. I mean, 15 minutes with him, I'm like, okay, all right, that's enough. You know? You know, it's. It's. Yeah, but it's. They can roast me. They love me.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

So my friends, they know things about me. They can roast me. That's good. But a bunch of strangers and some just average white boys come up and say shit to me. Oh, we was. They would still be pulling me off of Tony Hitchcliffe right now. You know what I'm saying? I wear that ass out. I'm not. No. You're just not gonna call me out my name for. No.

[Andrew Martinez]

Has that ever happened to you? Has any. Have you ever had to, like, check somebody at a show or. Cause comedians, sometimes they could cross a line.

[Wanda Sykes]

You know what? I don't even. I don't even, like, do the back and forth because people didn't, you know, And I tell them, look, people ain't pay their money to come in here to hear you with this bullshit. You doing? You know, so I shut them down real quick and then if they want to keep going, then I just, just get them out of there.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah, smart.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

But even like in their crew, like you say you have friends that'll roast you, right? Or backstage, you know, all the comedians is talking.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

Like you've never had to like, I don't know, like, check somebody like, or.

[Wanda Sykes]

But it's, but it's comedy, you know.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yes.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

Oh, so you could take it.

[Wanda Sykes]

Oh, absolutely, absolutely.

[Andrew Martinez]

You're not like. See, I don't know if I'm built for that. You know what I'm saying? Like.

[Wanda Sykes]

Right.

[Andrew Martinez]

I could, I could take a joke.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

But I have a little line in the sand.

[Wanda Sykes]

Okay.

[Andrew Martinez]

And so I. Even in my career. Cause you know, I can be around

[Wanda Sykes]

guys all the time, right.

[Andrew Martinez]

And so. And I could talk shit with guys. I could gamble.

[Wanda Sykes]

We get.

[Andrew Martinez]

You know, but every now and then, a couple of times I've had to be like, hey, don't do that.

[Wanda Sykes]

Right? Is that. Oh yeah. Oh, oh, yeah, yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

And then they're like, what I thought it was, Right, right. You know, but every now and then people will cross the line.

[Wanda Sykes]

Oh yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

And I can only imagine in your world.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah, yeah. Put them, yeah, put them in their place. Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

You've had that happen.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah. You gotta let them know it's so funny. Like especially in, in, in the, you know, in, in the queer community. Like I had to check, check some, some gay guys because.

[Andrew Martinez]

What do you mean?

[Wanda Sykes]

Because they just, they just too little bit too, you know, a little bit too loose with the bitch, you know.

[Andrew Martinez]

Oh. They going, yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

And I'm like, I said, I' right now I'm, I'm not. I'm only gonna be like two. You get two and then we gonna have a problem. Like I'm a 62 y old black woman. You. I ain't gonna be your little. Don't you got like two of those? Yeah, I got two with me. I got two. I got two. And that's about it really. Uhuh. I say so use them wisely.

[Andrew Martinez]

Don't.

[Wanda Sykes]

You better make them count.

[Andrew Martinez]

That's really funny. I was like, even if it's with love. Even when they mean it with love,

[Wanda Sykes]

I would imagine, yes. Yeah, you got two and you get two.

[Andrew Martinez]

That's really funny. Oh, Wanda, that's really good. You're very open too. In your specials about your life, your marriage, your children, you being the only black woman in your household and the challenges that that presents for you.

[Wanda Sykes]

That's Right.

[Andrew Martinez]

But there was something positive, too, that you said.

[Brittany J.]

Oh,

[Andrew Martinez]

was it about playing?

[Wanda Sykes]

About. Yeah, you know, growing up, it was always, you know, stop playing.

[Andrew Martinez]

Stop playing.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah, you play too much.

[Andrew Martinez]

You play too much. But what you learned from your white

[Wanda Sykes]

family, they play all the time.

[Andrew Martinez]

Playing is okay sometimes.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah, white people play all the time. I'm like, damn, y' all play a lot. Just make up shit. Just playing. And it would annoy me. Like, what? Hey, hey, hey, hey. Come on. Just. Just. Can't y' all just sit still? You know, at the dinner table, they just playing. Ding, ding, ding.

[Andrew Martinez]

Hey. It bothers you?

[Wanda Sykes]

It bothers me.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

And they're like, oh, come on. What? I'm like, okay. That's right. We. It's nothing. Nothing. No one's getting hurt. We're having a good time.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

So we. Yeah, we play.

[Andrew Martinez]

You've learned that.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

From your family.

[Wanda Sykes]

From my family.

[Andrew Martinez]

How's that going, though? Are you, like. Have you made progress with.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yes.

[Andrew Martinez]

Can you play?

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah, I can play. I can play. I can play. And then when it gets too much, then I leave the room and they crack up, you know, they just start laughing like, she can't play anymore. It's like, look, I knew she wouldn't take it. I knew she couldn't take it. I knew she could take it. But, yeah, it's. It's. It's interesting because they don't have to think about things, you know, like. Like we were, like, going a walk, and I'm staying on the path, you know, and they just can just wander off. And I'm like, you're not supposed to be over there. Get people over here on the path. That's why they made the path. And they just wandering off, you know, free, free. But they. You know, they just have that. That. That freedom.

[Andrew Martinez]

It's like a whole life that you've created for yourself where you can constantly learn, analyze, see the differences in experiences.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah, you're right, because it was so funny. I was at. My son plays tennis, and I was. He had a match, and they. You know, the courts, they didn't have any bleachers or whatever, so, like, most tennis. So. And I noticed, like, he was on this side of the court, so I wanted to watch him, you know, from. From behind, so I can watch his. See what his swing is doing. And. But no one was over there, so I was like, oh, I guess, you know, maybe you're not supposed to sit on that side, you know, where the grass is. So I just stand on the other Side. So after he said, did you get any video of me from. From the back? I said, no. I wanted to go over there, but I didn't see anybody, you know, over there, so I didn't think you were allowed. He was like, what? Like, it was like I wasn't even speaking English. He was like, wait, what? I said aloud. He said, what do you mean? I said, well, it wasn't. So I didn't see anybody over there. So I didn't think. He was like, but why would you think. And he was like, I don't understand. I was like, I forgot. You a white man. You don't. You don't understand. You don't understand. I said, I got a whole thing in my head, you know, I don't want to go over there and somebody say, hey, get. You know, I never want somebody to tell me, you're not supposed to be. You're not supposed to be somewhere.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

So. And he just.

[Andrew Martinez]

He just was like, doesn't understand.

[Wanda Sykes]

Like. Like his head was going to explode. Like, what the. What?

[Andrew Martinez]

It's amazing.

[Wanda Sykes]

It's weird. It's weird that I think that about things like that, but yet I'll go on stage and say whatever the fuck I want to say. I don't like. Maybe that's why I enjoy it, because you people can't tell me what, you know, I'm not allowed to do on stage. Yeah, that's freedom. Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

How does the family manage, you going on stage and sharing so much of this? How does that. What's the dynamic of that?

[Wanda Sykes]

My kids are now at the age where they would rather not be in the show. My wife, Alex, she loves being in the show.

[Andrew Martinez]

She does.

[Wanda Sykes]

She loves it. As long as I'm nice to her on the show. Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

Her smoking cigarettes. But she doesn't smoke.

[Wanda Sykes]

She doesn't smoke. It's funny to me. It's just how I see her, just.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah, that's really funny.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah. But, you know, as long as I'm, you know, not dissing her or anything, she's. She loves being in the shower.

[Andrew Martinez]

She's a good sport.

[Wanda Sykes]

She was a great sport.

[Andrew Martinez]

And you've been married how many years?

[Wanda Sykes]

Oh, wow. A lot. Well, we met in. Met in 06, so we've been together for, like, 20 years.

[Andrew Martinez]

Wow.

[Wanda Sykes]

Married. It'll be 18. Yes.

[Andrew Martinez]

Were you married before? You were married before?

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

Two marriages.

[Wanda Sykes]

No, one. I was married. Yeah, right.

[Andrew Martinez]

If you were married before and you're married now.

[Wanda Sykes]

Oh, I thought you said. Did I have two marriages before this one? Marriages Two marriages? Yes. Yes.

[Andrew Martinez]

You had a husband.

[Wanda Sykes]

I had a whole husband.

[Andrew Martinez]

And now you have a whole wife.

[Wanda Sykes]

A whole wife.

[Andrew Martinez]

And what? I mean, obviously the wife is better.

[Wanda Sykes]

Wife. Yeah, this. That works. I was trying something with the husband. I was trying to make it work. I was trying.

[Andrew Martinez]

You're like, let me see something.

[Wanda Sykes]

Let me try. This didn't work.

[Andrew Martinez]

How fast did you know, though? Like, no, what were you trying to try? Like, what were you trying to. Were you trying to prove something to me?

[Wanda Sykes]

I mean. No, I mean, I, you know, I had always dated guys, and so I guess, yeah, it was just, you know, it wasn't in my mind, like, ooh, I shouldn't be doing this. You know, it wasn't. I didn't. Yeah. I said, okay, this. I can make this work. It was just. It was just a bad relationship. Well, then that doesn't work. Yeah, exactly.

[Andrew Martinez]

Does it matter?

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah, exactly. Yeah, it doesn't. Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

Bad relationship.

[Wanda Sykes]

It's a bad relationship. Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

But it didn't scare you enough to not want to try that again?

[Wanda Sykes]

Cause sometimes, right?

[Andrew Martinez]

Sometimes divorced people just stay divorced. They're like, marriage is not for me.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah, whatever.

[Andrew Martinez]

It's just. It's hard to get up for some people.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah. But, you know, you fall in love and it just makes sense. I didn't think I wanted kids, you know, but it just.

[Andrew Martinez]

She wanted kids.

[Wanda Sykes]

She wanted kids.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah. And you made the decision to like.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah, like, why wouldn't I want to raise a family with this person? Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

What is it then? What is the thing that you got right this time that you got wrong last time in terms of being a wife? And, I don't know, making a marriage work, like, I'm sure you've had to learn, I guess.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah, just. Just growth and it just made sense. She was just, you know, your person. My person? Yeah. Yeah, it just made sense.

[Andrew Martinez]

And you were younger the first time, right?

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah, I mean, I was in my 20s, so, I mean, does anybody know

[Andrew Martinez]

how to be married?

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah, I don't know. Yeah. You know, anything.

[Andrew Martinez]

Do 20 year olds know how to be married? I don't.

[Wanda Sykes]

I don't know. Maybe, you know, maybe somebody. Somebody.

[Andrew Martinez]

I for sure wouldn't have known how to be married in my 20s. I barely knew how to be myself in my 20s. Yeah, we're still trying to figure it out. You just had a number two. What did you. You just had a. You're 62.

[Wanda Sykes]

62.

[Andrew Martinez]

How. 60s. How do you feel about that?

[Wanda Sykes]

Gassy. Gassy. Gassy, Gassy. That is the headline that's what I'm getting out of 60s. I'm 55.

[Andrew Martinez]

This is not, I need, I'm just

[Wanda Sykes]

letting you know I need more.

[Andrew Martinez]

I need a little. No, no.

[Wanda Sykes]

60s.

[Andrew Martinez]

Come on, give me the good stuff.

[Wanda Sykes]

The good stuff is if you're doing it right, you know more about yourself, you know what you're, you know what, what you can take and you know what you'll put up with. You don't, you don't settle. Yeah. You've, you know, you've done this long enough. You, you know.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

It's like now when I say I don't want to do something, I'm, I don't want to do it. I don't want to do it. And I feel okay about that.

[Andrew Martinez]

That's great.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

I think I'm there. I'm almost there.

[Wanda Sykes]

You're almost there.

[Andrew Martinez]

I might go close. I'm there.

[Wanda Sykes]

Right. Because somebody I care about.

[Andrew Martinez]

Feelings hurt. I still have a little like.

[Wanda Sykes]

Oh, right, right. But you. Because I, I think we understand how, how precious time is that part. Right?

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah, for sure.

[Wanda Sykes]

And especially like, I see like my, my friends and you know, and I'm, I'm going through it also with like older parents and you have to, you know, be available for, for them and so your time is precious.

[Andrew Martinez]

They don't prepare, they don't prepare us for that in life.

[Wanda Sykes]

Not at all.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah. Having to take care of our parents.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

Are you taking care of both right now?

[Wanda Sykes]

Well, I mean, my, my, my, my dad, you know, he's, he's physically, you know, everything's there, but just mentally, you know, short term memories is, is gone. But my mom, she's his, his, you know, main caretaker. But they also, you know, live with my brother and his wife. So they, you know, they, they, they're, they, they have people.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

But I, you know, have to make sure I can also be involved and, and get down there and spend time with them because I also enjoy, you know, enjoy spending time with them. I take my mom out to the casinos, give her a little break and all. So. Yeah. Yeah. That's fun. That's fun. So. Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

No, but it's real. It's a, it's real. It's a thing that they don't prepare us for. No, because financially it's a thing, just their well being, you caring for an adult, it's like you don't think about the fact that we have to do that and all that. It's tricky.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

But God bless that they're still here and you can do that. And yeah, gambling sounds like a great time. Like, what a blessing to be able to do that.

[Podcast Host]

All right, I'm gonna go to the cards, Wanda.

[Wanda Sykes]

Okay, we'll go into the car and

[Podcast Host]

then we have a bowl and we have a voice.

[Andrew Martinez]

No.

[Podcast Host]

Hey, guys, you ever signed up for a phone plan thinking, wow, what a great price.

[Andrew Martinez]

And then a few months later, it's like, surprise, your bill is higher.

[Podcast Host]

We hate that. With Boost mobile, you pay $25 a month.

[Wanda Sykes]

Forever.

[Podcast Host]

That's unlimited talk, text and data starting at just $25 a month. There's no price hikes. There's no contract. And this is forever. Plus, Boost Mobile is now a legit nationwide 5G network. They invested billions building 5G towers across the country. So what you need to do is visit boostmobile.com or head to your local Boost store today and get unlimited talk, text and data for 25amonth.

[Andrew Martinez]

Forever.

[Podcast Host]

5G speeds not available in all areas. After 30 gigabytes, customers may experience slower speeds. Customers will pay 25amonth as long as they remain active. On the Boost Unlimited plan.

[Wanda Sykes]

We have a When you own your

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own business, you own every decision.

[Wanda Sykes]

Catch the red eye or take the

[Kohler Cast Iron Ambassador]

6am Make a new hire or promote internally.

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Celebrate a win with the toast at

[Andrew Martinez]

the gate or unwind at the lounge. Big props to this team.

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[Daniel Cormier]

This is Daniel Cormier from the Daniel Cormier Show. This podcast is sponsored by Total Wireless, the official wireless partner of ufc. All UFC fighters know power doesn't wait in the octagon or outside of it. You either make the move or you miss the moment. That's why you need a network that's as powerful as you are. With Total Wireless, you get unlimited 5G data keeping you in on all the action, from the walkouts to the knockouts. You'll never miss a moment. That's coverage that you can count on for every single round. So when the moment happens, you're not catching up. You're already there. Now that that's a total power move. In the ufc, power isn't given, it's taken. So make your total power move today. Visit totalwireless.com or stop by your neighborhood. Total Wireless store. 5G access requires a 5G capable device in a 5G service area. Monthly rates on the Total Base 5G Unlimited plan for new subscribers applies only to the monthly rate for your plan. Additional terms apply. See website for details.

[Amy Eric]

Hello, beautiful. I'm Amy Eric, founder of Madison Reed, a hair color company I named after my daughter. Forget everything you know about hair. Hair color. The mess, the smell, the hassle, the damage. I started Madison Reed because I believed women deserved better. Our mission is simple. To give you the highest quality hair color with salon results and ingredients you could feel good about. Female founded and female led, We've transformed every part of the hair coloring experience from what goes into your color to where and how you use it. Our salon quality color is made with ingredients that care for your hair and gives you the freedom to color at home. Or visit our first of its kind hair color bars and let us do it for you in less time and for a fraction of the cost of a typical salon. At Madison Reed, you get more than gorgeous results. You get confidence, convenience, and award winning hair color. Tried and true and loved by millions of women. Come experience it for yourself. The future of hair color is here at Madison Reed.

[Diff Eyewear Announcer]

Okay, so can we talk about defy wear for a second? Because I'm a little obsessed. They have the cutest sunglasses and prescription frames. And honestly, the vibe is like whatever you're feeling that day, there is a pair for it. Chill day. Got you going out. Got you. And every purchase gives back, which I love. Go to diffiware.com and define your style. That's diffiware.com you're welcome.

[Andrew Martinez]

A feature called Our Voice Note where somebody sends you a message. It's usually a listener, a fan of the pod. All right, so this is from what,

[Podcast Host]

like, somebody who works on the Sherry Shepherd Show?

[Brittany J.]

Hey, Ms. Wanda. My name is Brittany J. And I'm a comedy writer who's just starting out in stand up. I recently had the opportunity to open up for my boss. The first night went really well. I had them cackling, honey. But the second night, there were people like walking to their seats during the whole set. And I couldn't tell a person. People just weren't rocking with me or if there were just too many distractions. So I'm not as shy. Like, I'm not shy in front of people. But with stand up, I feel like they just staring at you, like, make me laugh right now. So it's kind of stressful to me. And it's a practice set, right. So I'm not really sure how to finagle. So my question is, when you were starting out If a room wasn't really responding, did you pivot in real time to try to win them back or did you stick to the set and just rework it later? And how do you know when a set is actually ready to perform?

[Wanda Sykes]

Huh?

[Andrew Martinez]

Okay, it was a long ass question.

[Wanda Sykes]

I lost me like three. I know. Okay, so what is the gist of the question? I was gonna say that's the, the

[Podcast Host]

gist of the question is pivot midway

[Brittany J.]

through when they're not rocking with it or they just keep going.

[Andrew Martinez]

Do you stay in a set?

[Wanda Sykes]

Right. Well, I think she, I mean, she answered her, her question in that long ass question. You know what I'm saying? She, she's too, she's distracted. She's talking about, you gotta get to the point fast. Gotta get to the point fast.

[Andrew Martinez]

That's number one.

[Wanda Sykes]

Edit. You have to edit. And that's what I can tell by her question. Get to the point. So, yeah, if, if there's, if the room is. There's a lot of distractions. Yeah. You have to let the room settle. So instead of going right to material, have some things to warm up everybody. Okay. You know.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

You gotta get, get their attention. Get their attention before be present. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

And I would imagine pivoting is, it's part, it's all.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah, that's part of it.

[Andrew Martinez]

If something's not working, you pivot.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah, yeah. You know it's not working.

[Brittany J.]

You said.

[Wanda Sykes]

No, I' ma dig deep. No, no. Yeah, I'm going in. No, no, you gotta pivot.

[Andrew Martinez]

You gotta pivot.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

Play. You can work the room. Right? It's like a good dj. The song doesn't work.

[Wanda Sykes]

You gotta exactly, exactly get to the hook and go to the next step. That's right. You know, we got three more minutes on this.

[Andrew Martinez]

Is that your number one? Like when, when young aspiring comedians. What, what is your, like, go to advice for somebody who's starting in this space and everybody's a comedian now because there's social media. You could have an Instagram page and

[Wanda Sykes]

you could be a. I always tell them to write. Right. It's about the, you know, you have to have the material. You could be naturally funny. But what are you saying? And also the comics that I love, you learn something about them, you know, or when you walk away, you feel like, I kind of like, know how this person operates and you can remember something about them. You can go someplace and the person is hilarious and then you walk out and go, I have no idea what they said, but it was hilarious. You Know, making me laugh, but, you know, there's no takeaway.

[Andrew Martinez]

You want people to leave a piece of you almost.

[Brittany J.]

Right.

[Wanda Sykes]

Right.

[Andrew Martinez]

Or feel like.

[Wanda Sykes]

And be able to tell someone one of the jokes that's really something. Something they can remember.

[Andrew Martinez]

How do you do that? Like, what is that process? Even this legacy special, like, when you're

[Wanda Sykes]

about to start writing. Mm.

[Andrew Martinez]

Do you start with, like, what's on your heart? What's in the world? What's. Like, how does that even. What's that process?

[Diff Eyewear Announcer]

Like?

[Wanda Sykes]

It's usually what's in the world. I start there, and then it's, you know, what's going on with me. But I, you know, I. I tour for, like, at least two years before working it out.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

Before it becomes a special.

[Andrew Martinez]

Do people always expect you to be funny?

[Wanda Sykes]

Yes.

[Andrew Martinez]

Is that annoying?

[Wanda Sykes]

Yes.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

Because you're not, like, a yuck yuck.

[Wanda Sykes]

No, I am not. I'm not. And. And it's the thing that really got to me was the. The whole Larry David thing, because now people think I'm this, you know, crazy woman who just yells at you. So I would get that a lot in airports, people coming up to me, wanting to cuss me out.

[Podcast Host]

Why?

[Wanda Sykes]

What? Come on, my mom's on the phone. Tell her go fuck herself. What's wrong with you? Fuck is wrong with you? And I end up yelling at them anyway because they, you know, because they annoyed me. Like, why? That's not who I am, you know, what's wrong with you?

[Andrew Martinez]

What should people know about who you are versus the difference of, like, the comedian Wanda Sykes in the. In real life, Wanda Sykes. Is there a separation and

[Wanda Sykes]

the. Yeah. Wanda Sykes on stage really, you know, gives no fucks

[Podcast Host]

me.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah. I think a lot of empathy. I do care. I care. You care? Yeah. Oh, yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

You're sensitive. You're sensitive in there.

[Wanda Sykes]

Pisces. I told you.

[Andrew Martinez]

I love that.

[Podcast Host]

All right, let's do some in real life questions. In real life, what are you most

[Andrew Martinez]

proud of about your career, what you've been able to accomplish?

[Wanda Sykes]

I'm my career longevity, and I liked how it's the climb. It's not, you know, it's. No, I didn't shoot up to the top or anything. It's just steady work and growth, and I still challenge myself, still push. Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

Good for you.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah. And I still love it.

[Andrew Martinez]

You do still love it as much?

[Wanda Sykes]

Yep.

[Andrew Martinez]

Wow.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

Is there any dark sides to it or anything that's not fun for you that you have to push through?

[Wanda Sykes]

I think now it's a reflection of where we are in the country. I think that's the part.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah. Because before, you know, we could laugh at each other. I could do a joke about George Bush, whatever, and even Republicans or whatever, they would find it funny. It was like, okay, that's funny. But I don't agree with it. But it's funny.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah, there's that. That doesn't even exist.

[Wanda Sykes]

That doesn't exist anymore. We're just so. Just. Just utterly just divided and. And it's ugly. And, you know, a lot of racism is just rampant, so it takes some

[Andrew Martinez]

of the fun out of it, too.

[Wanda Sykes]

Oh, yeah. Yeah, it does.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah. Because there's no, like. I don't know, there's just one side. Can't see the other side at all. It's not even.

[Wanda Sykes]

Like.

[Andrew Martinez]

I don't even see the humor in your side.

[Wanda Sykes]

Right.

[Andrew Martinez]

That makes it less fun, I'm sure, for somebody like, you poke fun at things and you can't even laugh at it. Come on, guys. What about the difference between acting and doing stand up? Because you've done so many movies, right? And even in your movies, there's always. I don't know, I feel like you come into the movie with the way you. Your style, and it's so unique to you that it always adds. Like, even in I saw recently, Monster in Law, and you're so Wanda Sykes in it, and it works so good, and it's so different than how anybody else would have played that character. Like, you really bring a uniqueness to when you step into a film. I just wonder if that's just natural or it's.

[Wanda Sykes]

Well, it's. I think, why I get the part. You know, it's what they. What they want.

[Andrew Martinez]

They want the Wanda sites. Yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

So they'll say, wanda Sykes. Tight. I was like, well, I guess that's, you know, but let's just get one Sykes. You know, I should get in there.

[Andrew Martinez]

I should get in there for that, right? Do you like that as much, or is it still it? Stand up is still your baby, right?

[Wanda Sykes]

Stand up is still. That's. That's still my baby. That's where it all started, you know, it's still the most challenging. So I love stand up, but the acting. I love working with other people. That's fun.

[Podcast Host]

Hey, guys. Support for this podcast is brought to you by Walden University. Have you ever thought to yourself, what if I could go after what I actually want and I could really make a difference? Well, you are not alone. And this is exactly why I want to tell you about Walden University. For over 50 years, Walden has helped working adults like you get the w. With the knowledge, the skills, and everything you need to build the future that you want. And you can make a difference where it matters most. If you've been waiting for the right moment, this is it. Head to waldenu. Edu and take that first step. Walden University, set a course for change. Certified to operate by Shiv.

[Andrew Martinez]

All right, we have a bowl of

[Podcast Host]

in real life questions.

[Wanda Sykes]

Ready,

[Andrew Martinez]

Wanda?

[Wanda Sykes]

Sure.

[Andrew Martinez]

There's a bowl here.

[Wanda Sykes]

Okay. Okay, Go.

[Andrew Martinez]

Sorry.

[Podcast Host]

In real life, bowl.

[Wanda Sykes]

All right. What's one item on your bucket list that you want to check off next?

[Andrew Martinez]

Do you have a bucket list?

[Wanda Sykes]

I have a little bucket list.

[Andrew Martinez]

Okay.

[Wanda Sykes]

I want to go to China. Ah, yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

Why there?

[Wanda Sykes]

I've. I've been to Japan, and I love Japan.

[Andrew Martinez]

I just came back, actually, a month ago. It's the best.

[Wanda Sykes]

The food, everything. The culture, everything.

[Andrew Martinez]

I always say about Japan, it's like. It's like if New York cared about it itself. You know what I'm saying? Like, if we.

[Wanda Sykes]

That is perfect.

[Podcast Host]

Right?

[Andrew Martinez]

That's how it feels like. You know, people leave. If it's raining, you could just take an umbrella. People clean up the. They clean up after themselves. There's no trash.

[Podcast Host]

They're polite.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yes. In the subway, everybody's gonna rush, so you just. Everybody just steps to the right.

[Andrew Martinez]

Come on.

[Wanda Sykes]

And you can just. You know, I went on the subway,

[Andrew Martinez]

the seat is, like, material. I was like, if this was in

[Podcast Host]

New York, there'd be holes, it'd be stains.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah, because we don't care. Right? Those beautiful toilets they have. I mean, lovely, Lovely.

[Andrew Martinez]

So why can't we be better?

[Wanda Sykes]

Better?

[Andrew Martinez]

Why can't we do that? I could live there. I could live in Japan.

[Wanda Sykes]

Easy.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah, I could, too.

[Wanda Sykes]

Easy. Well, my. Who told George Wallace? We were talking about Japan, and he said, no, go to China. He said if you go to China. He said it would make Japan look like New York. He told me that. He said, go to China. He said, go to China.

[Andrew Martinez]

So why can't you go? You do well. You do well for yourself.

[Wanda Sykes]

One. I do okay.

[Andrew Martinez]

Plan a trip to China.

[Wanda Sykes]

I will. I'm someone. Plan a trip to China. That's what I'm gonna do next.

[Podcast Host]

Okay. In real life, what. How often do you think about your legacy?

[Wanda Sykes]

How often do I think about my legacy?

[Andrew Martinez]

And you know what?

[Wanda Sykes]

Only time I think about it is when a project is presented to me, and I'm on the fence if I want to do it or not. You know, I Go. Do I need this? Do I need this in my life? What is this going to do? Are my kids going to see this eventually? You know, so that's when I think

[Andrew Martinez]

about it, what you're leaving behind.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

Right. Yeah. What are your real life pet peeves?

[Wanda Sykes]

My real life pet peeves or triggers

[Andrew Martinez]

could be a trigger too.

[Wanda Sykes]

Lobster Mac and cheese. Whenever I see lobster Mac and cheese on a menu, I'm like, I don't want to eat here.

[Andrew Martinez]

Why?

[Wanda Sykes]

Because it shouldn't exist. It's not a thing. Lobster Mac and cheese is not a thing. When I see lobster Mac and cheese, it makes me think, one, you don't know how to make Mac and cheese.

[Andrew Martinez]

Then you need to put a lobster in it.

[Wanda Sykes]

You gotta put a lobster in it. And you're ruining lobster.

[Andrew Martinez]

Putting all that cheese on.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yes. That annoys me.

[Andrew Martinez]

You know how many places have lobster Mac and cheese?

[Wanda Sykes]

And it's trash. Lobster Mac and cheese is trash.

[Andrew Martinez]

Okay. In real life, what is something that you are still chasing, something that you, you still must accomplish while you're here?

[Wanda Sykes]

Wow.

[Andrew Martinez]

Is there something still because you've done so much.

[Wanda Sykes]

I don't, I don't think there's anything I'm like chasing.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

Nothing. Is that peace? Is that what peace looks like?

[Wanda Sykes]

I think that's. I think it's maybe. I don't know about peace, gratitude. And I just. And it's just the belief of I know what, what's for me, I will get it. So, yeah, I just let it come to me.

[Andrew Martinez]

What do you pray for most?

[Wanda Sykes]

What I pray for most? I guess health and protection of my kids. Yeah, I mean, like health in general for everyone.

[Andrew Martinez]

I would imagine that you have great pride. You know, you mentioned that you saw Queen Latifah in a.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yes.

[Podcast Host]

Recently.

[Andrew Martinez]

And just how out loud you've been, you've lived your life and I mean, as a black woman, as a woman, as a woman in comedy, as a, as a gay woman, as a. Like, I don't feel like you represent so many things and you've done it so kind of matter of factly. No, really, just like not a lot of hoopla. Not a lot of you just, I don't know, you just walk around kind of comfortable in your skin and I just wonder how much of that is like a sense of pride for you and who you've been able to represent for and put on for.

[Wanda Sykes]

I mean, yeah, I am. I think about it and yeah, I just like to just be just, you know.

[Andrew Martinez]

Yeah. Because it wasn't. But Things weren't like this.

[Wanda Sykes]

No. Before. No. But I mean, also that's growth. When you are comfortable in your own skin and just. I just find that being authentic, it's just so much easier. I don't, I don't need that stress trying to be some. Someone else or, you know, worrying about what other people have and what I don't have. No, it's. I, you know, it's like this, this is the way it's supposed to be.

[Andrew Martinez]

Was that always the case or did you have to find that?

[Wanda Sykes]

I think I had to find that. Yeah. And. And that comes, I think that comes with faith also. You know, my faith in God, I think that's. That definitely grounds me.

[Andrew Martinez]

And it's an easier way to live, Right?

[Wanda Sykes]

So much easier.

[Andrew Martinez]

You know, we get that wrong though.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

Until we don't.

[Wanda Sykes]

Right, Exactly.

[Andrew Martinez]

That's why when I see somebody living just. You live your life like it's, you know, it just, it's. It's good to see. You know what I mean? I. I think a lot of people, they struggle, you know, people struggle with that, especially now where their opinions on every turn. Living in, in your truth is not always the easy thing or taken for granted. You know, take it for granted that people can do that. So. Yeah, so. So you represent well, Wanda.

[Wanda Sykes]

Well, thank you.

[Andrew Martinez]

All right, let's just go to the last question. It's my favorite in the bowl. If God were to text you right now. Well, I'm excited about what you say for this. If God were to send you a text right now to your phone, Wanda, what would it say?

[Wanda Sykes]

I think it would say, Oh, you know, it would say you might want to read your Bible a little bit more. I think, I think that's what he would say. Like, hey, put that, put that wordle down. How about turn to Romans. How about read a little bit in Romans and put that, put that wordle down. You know,

[Andrew Martinez]

that's a good message. Yeah, it's a very specific and good message.

[Wanda Sykes]

Yeah.

[Andrew Martinez]

Juan decided to realize. Everybody,

[Wanda Sykes]

this is Wanda Sykes in real life.

[Podcast Host]

Hey guys, thanks for watching. Make sure you subscribe, like comment and check out all of the other episodes we have on Andrew Martinez IRL podcast.

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[Wanda Sykes]

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[Wanda Sykes]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.