Comedy Saved Me – Behind the Laughter with Wendy Liebman

Podcast: takin' a walk
Host: Lynn Hoffman (for this Comedy Saved Me crossover)
Guest: Wendy Liebman
Date: October 6, 2025
Duration: 00:02–54:26

Overview

In this heartfelt and candid episode, host Lynn Hoffman sits down with the legendary stand-up comedian Wendy Liebman. Known for her razor-sharp one-liners and signature misdirection, Wendy reflects on how comedy truly saved her, shares behind-the-scenes stories from her decades-spanning career, discusses the healing power of laughter, and offers advice to up-and-coming comics. The conversation bounces between humor and vulnerability, exploring how Wendy’s journey through depression led her to embrace comedy both as a craft and a source of personal transformation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Clothes We Wear, On Stage and Off

[01:11] Lynn and Wendy bond over always wearing black on stage—both for elegance and not distracting the audience.
Wendy jokes, “My niece once asked me, Aunt Wendy, why do you dress like a mime?” ([02:34])
Wendy occasionally tries to mix it up, buying a pink jacket: “I’m going to return it tomorrow… It’s not me.” ([01:43])

2. How Comedy (Literally) Saved Wendy

[05:46] Wendy recounts how she was deeply depressed while working in psych research after college and stumbled onto a course in stand-up comedy through a misdelivered mail catalog.
“When I read those words, it was like a light bulb went off, like, Eureka. … I just knew this is what I am: a standup comedian. ... I decided I would rather make a hundred people laugh than one person cry as a therapist.” ([05:56–08:21])
She cites studies showing laughter’s therapeutic effects (gelotology) and the importance of being around people.

3. From Psychology to Punchlines

Lynn asks if Wendy’s psych background influenced her comedy. Wendy says being a therapist is about listening—something she’s honed as a comedian as well ([09:17]).
On sensing audiences: “If I’m in an airport, I pick up on things around me. … It just honed my senses, I think.” ([09:17])

4. Crafting a Career & Advice for Young Comics

To her younger self: “Perform as much as humanly possible.” Wendy describes being on stage nightly—sometimes at multiple open mics. ([10:29])
Venue access was easier in the 80s: “There were a lot more venues and a lot fewer comedians.”
On material: “Try new material all the time. ... I write all the time, I just don't try it out all the time.” ([10:29–12:12])
Shares that she tends to work on the same jokes for years, honing them, and encourages others to "be fearless."

5. Handling Failure and Hecklers

Wendy describes feeling “very alone, very misunderstood, panicky and depressed” each time she bombs on stage—echoing how she felt before she found comedy ([14:26]).
“Part of what made me do stand up was an insecurity that I would fit in or get along.” ([13:50])

6. Signature Style: The Art of Misdirection & The Perfect Pause

Her misdirection style “is just the way my brain works,” but she credits influences like Jonathan Katz, Brian Kiley, Laura Kightlinger, and especially Kevin Meaney for teaching her about rapid-fire taglines and not fearing silence ([16:15]).
“Now in my 60s, I appreciate the silence more ... I do like the silence now. I take my time now on stage.” ([17:56–18:12])
Reflects on origins: her mother's need to fill silence possibly drives her own impulse to keep audiences engaged ([18:23]).

7. Misconceptions About Comedians

Stereotype: “Maybe that we’re funny all the time.” Wendy says her husband is actually the funny one at home ([19:31]).
Shares a fun family history: her husband is the son of the songwriting Sherman Brothers (“Mary Poppins,” “It’s a Small World,” “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”). Her husband’s experience with the polio vaccine inspired “A Spoonful of Sugar.” ([21:04])

8. Most Memorable Shows

Opening for Bob Hope for 5,000 people: “That was surreal. ... I feel like Zelig sometimes.” ([22:08])
Basement gig for 8 people in Dearborn: “It was joyous… We knew everybody’s name… I felt like a puck on an air hockey board.” ([22:23])
Audience interaction: Wendy’s evolved from “following my script” to spontaneous crowd work, inspired by comics like Paula Poundstone and Jimmy Brogan ([23:26–25:56]).

9. The Role of Comedy in Healing and Life

“Hearing laughter for 40 years—I wonder what that does to somebody’s psyche.” ([37:07])
Comedy is Wendy’s "fix" that keeps her from depression ([36:35]).
On laughter: “A laughing crowd is a chorus of peace, because we’re all on the same wavelength at that point. And it’s joyous.” ([39:28–40:06])

10. Resilience: Life & Career Bumps

Wendy survived two serious car accidents. After the first, “I thought, I have to get back out there.” She auditioned for America’s Got Talent and found community and renewed purpose ([41:11–43:07]).
The second accident left her unable to walk for almost 14 months but also gave her time for reflection and feeling loved ([44:03–45:35]).

11. Love, Marriage, and Dogs

Married 22 years, together for 3 before that. Describes her husband as an “angel” who cared for her during recovery ([46:13–46:22]).
Rescued two Jindo dogs from Korea: “They were rescued from a meat market in South Korea.” ([47:51])

12. Lingering Wisdom and Parting Advice

“Just try new material all the time and also just have fun… I just want the audience to feel good.” ([48:59–49:58])
Shares inspiration from Yo-Yo Ma—treating every show as hosting a party for the audience.
Her “what I learned from stand up comedy” list: “You are unique, but you’re also equal to everybody. Wear whatever you want and pray that nobody throws anything at your head.” ([53:11])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On discovering comedy:
“When I read those words, it was like a light bulb went off, like, Eureka. I heard angels singing… I just knew this is what I am—a standup comedian.” —Wendy Liebman ([05:56])
Why she does standup:
“I decided I would rather make a hundred people laugh than one person cry as a therapist or cry by myself.” —Wendy Liebman ([07:55])
On handling silence:
“Now in my 60s, I appreciate the silence more. … My husband, for our 22nd anniversary, gave me a book called The Power of Silence. Oh, that's just a joke.” —Wendy Liebman ([17:29])
On the unglamorous side of the job:
“My job I see as getting to the gig… It's also learning how to do morning PR, which is radio, or learning how to do press, which I didn't know was part of my job.” —Wendy Liebman ([33:47])
After her car accident:
“I have to get back out there...I auditioned for America’s Got Talent and that really did, like, boost my visibility.” —Wendy Liebman ([41:36])
On laughter as healing:
“A laughing crowd is a chorus of peace, because we’re all on the same wavelength at that point. And it’s joyous.” —Wendy Liebman ([39:28])
Advice to her younger self:
“Be fearless. Try new material all the time. And just have fun.” —Wendy Liebman ([13:49], [48:59])
Family Fun Fact:
“My husband is the son of a songwriter who wrote a lot of the music for Disney. … They wrote the song ‘It’s a Small World.’” —Wendy Liebman ([20:43])
On her dogs:
“They were rescued from a meat market in South Korea... As trainable as carrots.” —Wendy Liebman ([47:51])

Important Timestamps

[01:11] Lynn & Wendy bond over always wearing black
[05:46] Wendy describes how depression pushed her to comedy
[10:29] Advice to young comedians and her own evolution
[13:49] Overcoming fear, learning from bombing and insecurity
[16:15] Influences on her style; the power of silence
[22:08] Opening for Bob Hope, and her most memorable gigs
[36:35] Laughter as a “fix” for her well-being
[39:28] On the healing power of laughing together
[41:11] Recovering from accidents; resurgence via America's Got Talent
[47:51] Rescuing her beloved dogs from South Korea
[48:59] Parting wisdom: new material and having fun
[53:11] “What I learned from stand up comedy…”

Closing

Wendy’s story is rich with honesty—about pain and healing, the quirks of her craft, and the grounded happiness she’s found in making others laugh. With grace, openness, and impeccable timing (“It’s the filter…”), she reminds us that comedy, at its core, is both a shield and a gift.

Where to find her: wendyliebman.com
Social: On all platforms except X (Twitter)

Comedy Saved Me – Behind the Laughter with Wendy Liebman

Podcast: takin' a walk
Host: Lynn Hoffman (for this Comedy Saved Me crossover)
Guest: Wendy Liebman
Date: October 6, 2025
Duration: 00:02–54:26

Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Clothes We Wear, On Stage and Off

[01:11] Lynn and Wendy bond over always wearing black on stage—both for elegance and not distracting the audience.
Wendy jokes, “My niece once asked me, Aunt Wendy, why do you dress like a mime?” ([02:34])
Wendy occasionally tries to mix it up, buying a pink jacket: “I’m going to return it tomorrow… It’s not me.” ([01:43])

2. How Comedy (Literally) Saved Wendy

[05:46] Wendy recounts how she was deeply depressed while working in psych research after college and stumbled onto a course in stand-up comedy through a misdelivered mail catalog.
“When I read those words, it was like a light bulb went off, like, Eureka. … I just knew this is what I am: a standup comedian. ... I decided I would rather make a hundred people laugh than one person cry as a therapist.” ([05:56–08:21])
She cites studies showing laughter’s therapeutic effects (gelotology) and the importance of being around people.

3. From Psychology to Punchlines

Lynn asks if Wendy’s psych background influenced her comedy. Wendy says being a therapist is about listening—something she’s honed as a comedian as well ([09:17]).
On sensing audiences: “If I’m in an airport, I pick up on things around me. … It just honed my senses, I think.” ([09:17])

4. Crafting a Career & Advice for Young Comics

To her younger self: “Perform as much as humanly possible.” Wendy describes being on stage nightly—sometimes at multiple open mics. ([10:29])
Venue access was easier in the 80s: “There were a lot more venues and a lot fewer comedians.”
On material: “Try new material all the time. ... I write all the time, I just don't try it out all the time.” ([10:29–12:12])
Shares that she tends to work on the same jokes for years, honing them, and encourages others to "be fearless."

5. Handling Failure and Hecklers

Wendy describes feeling “very alone, very misunderstood, panicky and depressed” each time she bombs on stage—echoing how she felt before she found comedy ([14:26]).
“Part of what made me do stand up was an insecurity that I would fit in or get along.” ([13:50])

6. Signature Style: The Art of Misdirection & The Perfect Pause

Her misdirection style “is just the way my brain works,” but she credits influences like Jonathan Katz, Brian Kiley, Laura Kightlinger, and especially Kevin Meaney for teaching her about rapid-fire taglines and not fearing silence ([16:15]).
“Now in my 60s, I appreciate the silence more ... I do like the silence now. I take my time now on stage.” ([17:56–18:12])
Reflects on origins: her mother's need to fill silence possibly drives her own impulse to keep audiences engaged ([18:23]).

7. Misconceptions About Comedians

Stereotype: “Maybe that we’re funny all the time.” Wendy says her husband is actually the funny one at home ([19:31]).
Shares a fun family history: her husband is the son of the songwriting Sherman Brothers (“Mary Poppins,” “It’s a Small World,” “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”). Her husband’s experience with the polio vaccine inspired “A Spoonful of Sugar.” ([21:04])

8. Most Memorable Shows

Opening for Bob Hope for 5,000 people: “That was surreal. ... I feel like Zelig sometimes.” ([22:08])
Basement gig for 8 people in Dearborn: “It was joyous… We knew everybody’s name… I felt like a puck on an air hockey board.” ([22:23])
Audience interaction: Wendy’s evolved from “following my script” to spontaneous crowd work, inspired by comics like Paula Poundstone and Jimmy Brogan ([23:26–25:56]).

9. The Role of Comedy in Healing and Life

“Hearing laughter for 40 years—I wonder what that does to somebody’s psyche.” ([37:07])
Comedy is Wendy’s "fix" that keeps her from depression ([36:35]).
On laughter: “A laughing crowd is a chorus of peace, because we’re all on the same wavelength at that point. And it’s joyous.” ([39:28–40:06])

10. Resilience: Life & Career Bumps

Wendy survived two serious car accidents. After the first, “I thought, I have to get back out there.” She auditioned for America’s Got Talent and found community and renewed purpose ([41:11–43:07]).
The second accident left her unable to walk for almost 14 months but also gave her time for reflection and feeling loved ([44:03–45:35]).

11. Love, Marriage, and Dogs

Married 22 years, together for 3 before that. Describes her husband as an “angel” who cared for her during recovery ([46:13–46:22]).
Rescued two Jindo dogs from Korea: “They were rescued from a meat market in South Korea.” ([47:51])

12. Lingering Wisdom and Parting Advice

“Just try new material all the time and also just have fun… I just want the audience to feel good.” ([48:59–49:58])
Shares inspiration from Yo-Yo Ma—treating every show as hosting a party for the audience.
Her “what I learned from stand up comedy” list: “You are unique, but you’re also equal to everybody. Wear whatever you want and pray that nobody throws anything at your head.” ([53:11])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On discovering comedy:
“When I read those words, it was like a light bulb went off, like, Eureka. I heard angels singing… I just knew this is what I am—a standup comedian.” —Wendy Liebman ([05:56])
Why she does standup:
“I decided I would rather make a hundred people laugh than one person cry as a therapist or cry by myself.” —Wendy Liebman ([07:55])
On handling silence:
“Now in my 60s, I appreciate the silence more. … My husband, for our 22nd anniversary, gave me a book called The Power of Silence. Oh, that's just a joke.” —Wendy Liebman ([17:29])
On the unglamorous side of the job:
“My job I see as getting to the gig… It's also learning how to do morning PR, which is radio, or learning how to do press, which I didn't know was part of my job.” —Wendy Liebman ([33:47])
After her car accident:
“I have to get back out there...I auditioned for America’s Got Talent and that really did, like, boost my visibility.” —Wendy Liebman ([41:36])
On laughter as healing:
“A laughing crowd is a chorus of peace, because we’re all on the same wavelength at that point. And it’s joyous.” —Wendy Liebman ([39:28])
Advice to her younger self:
“Be fearless. Try new material all the time. And just have fun.” —Wendy Liebman ([13:49], [48:59])
Family Fun Fact:
“My husband is the son of a songwriter who wrote a lot of the music for Disney. … They wrote the song ‘It’s a Small World.’” —Wendy Liebman ([20:43])
On her dogs:
“They were rescued from a meat market in South Korea... As trainable as carrots.” —Wendy Liebman ([47:51])

Important Timestamps

[01:11] Lynn & Wendy bond over always wearing black
[05:46] Wendy describes how depression pushed her to comedy
[10:29] Advice to young comedians and her own evolution
[13:49] Overcoming fear, learning from bombing and insecurity
[16:15] Influences on her style; the power of silence
[22:08] Opening for Bob Hope, and her most memorable gigs
[36:35] Laughter as a “fix” for her well-being
[39:28] On the healing power of laughing together
[41:11] Recovering from accidents; resurgence via America's Got Talent
[47:51] Rescuing her beloved dogs from South Korea
[48:59] Parting wisdom: new material and having fun
[53:11] “What I learned from stand up comedy…”

Closing

Where to find her: wendyliebman.com
Social: On all platforms except X (Twitter)

Comedy Saved Me-Behind the Laughter with Wendy Liebman

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Summary

Comedy Saved Me – Behind the Laughter with Wendy Liebman

Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Clothes We Wear, On Stage and Off

2. How Comedy (Literally) Saved Wendy

3. From Psychology to Punchlines

4. Crafting a Career & Advice for Young Comics

5. Handling Failure and Hecklers

6. Signature Style: The Art of Misdirection & The Perfect Pause

7. Misconceptions About Comedians

8. Most Memorable Shows

9. The Role of Comedy in Healing and Life

10. Resilience: Life & Career Bumps

11. Love, Marriage, and Dogs

12. Lingering Wisdom and Parting Advice

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Important Timestamps

Closing

Summary

Comedy Saved Me – Behind the Laughter with Wendy Liebman

Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Clothes We Wear, On Stage and Off

2. How Comedy (Literally) Saved Wendy

3. From Psychology to Punchlines

4. Crafting a Career & Advice for Young Comics

5. Handling Failure and Hecklers

6. Signature Style: The Art of Misdirection & The Perfect Pause

7. Misconceptions About Comedians

8. Most Memorable Shows

9. The Role of Comedy in Healing and Life

10. Resilience: Life & Career Bumps

11. Love, Marriage, and Dogs

12. Lingering Wisdom and Parting Advice

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Important Timestamps

Closing