Podcast Summary: "Laughter and Lucky Beats: Celebrating Margaret Cho's Comedy and Musical Journey"

Podcast Information:

• Title: takin' a walk
• Host: Buzz Knight
• Episode: "Laughter and Lucky Beats: Celebrating Margaret Cho's Comedy and Musical Journey"
• Release Date: March 4, 2025
• Description: In this episode, Buzz Knight engages in an insightful conversation with Margaret Cho, a trailblazing comedian, actor, musician, and activist. They explore Margaret's dual passions for comedy and music, her latest album, creative processes, advocacy work, and the healing powers of both art forms.

Introduction to Margaret Cho

Buzz Knight welcomes listeners to the episode, highlighting Margaret Cho's multifaceted career spanning over four decades. He introduces her latest musical endeavor, the album "Lucky Gift", and sets the stage for an engaging discussion about her journey in comedy and music.

Key Quote:

Buzz Knight [02:58]: "Today on Taking a Walk, Buzz is joined by the incomparable Margaret Cho. She's a trailblazing comedian, actor, musician, and activist."

A Walk with Nancy Kwan

Margaret shares her desire to take a walk with Nancy Kwan, a pioneering Asian American actress and artist. She admires Nancy's contributions to cinema and her status as a true icon.

Key Quote:

Margaret Cho [03:57]: "She's a true pioneer in Asian American cinema and art and entertainment, and she's everything. She's a singer, dancer, actress, model, icon."

Creating "Lucky Gift"

Margaret delves into the creation of her new album, "Lucky Gift", which she has been developing for over a decade. She collaborated with Roger Rocha from 4 Non Blondes and Garrison Starr, blending experiences from her outreach projects and personal songwriting.

Key Quote:

Margaret Cho [05:06]: "This album I've been working on actually for the last 10 years, 11 years. Some of the songs were written with Roger Rocha from 4 Non Blondes. He is a wonderful songwriter and a musical genius."

Differences Between Stand-Up and Music Creation

The conversation shifts to Margaret's creative processes in stand-up comedy versus music. She explains the immediacy of comedy, where jokes are crafted and performed swiftly, compared to the more introspective and prolonged process of songwriting.

Key Quote:

Margaret Cho [07:09]: "Stand up comedy is so much of a dialogue with your audience because they have to laugh to fill in the other part of the joke or to complete the joke. Whereas songs, they can exist on their own."

Exploring Unique Instruments: The Mandatar

Margaret introduces her use of the mandatar, a unique double-neck instrument combining a mandolin and a guitar. She discusses how this instrument influenced the acoustic and country flavors in her music.

Key Quote:

Margaret Cho [09:44]: "The mandatar comes from Bruin, which is a legendary guitar store in Nashville. One neck is a mandolin and one neck is a guitar. I played them together as one long strum, and it worked perfectly for the song 'Lucky Gift.'"

Admiration for Influential Songwriters

Margaret expresses her admiration for legendary songwriters like Bobbie Gentry, Jill Sobule, and Dolly Parton, highlighting their impact on her musical style and artistic confidence.

Key Quote:

Margaret Cho [11:50]: "Bobbie Gentry was just such a force. She's an amazing songwriter, singer, and a great beauty. Dolly Parton is also an icon with incredible songwriting and singing talents."

Advocacy and Personal Beliefs

Margaret discusses her deep commitment to advocacy, particularly for the LGBTQ+ community. She emphasizes the importance of protecting trans rights and combating discriminatory policies, reflecting her activist spirit.

Key Quote:

Margaret Cho [30:12]: "Protecting rights for gay people, for trans people, trans people in particular, is a huge issue for me. It's a very treacherous time trying to combat these ideas of Project 2025."

Healing Powers of Music and Comedy

The duo explores the therapeutic aspects of both music and comedy. Margaret eloquently describes how laughter and sound frequencies can heal the mind and body, underscoring her belief in the power of these art forms.

Key Quote:

Margaret Cho [22:26]: "Laughter is like this hit of oxygen that we all need all the time, but it disrupts your normal breathing pattern and makes you breathe deeper and harder. It's truly life-affirming."

Impact of the Pandemic on Touring

Margaret reflects on how the COVID-19 pandemic altered her approach to touring and traveling. She shares her newfound appreciation for being a homebody and how it has reshaped her touring style to be more controlled and comfortable.

Key Quote:

Margaret Cho [29:02]: "During the pandemic, I had a crisis of conscience, like who are we even without traveling and touring. I realized that I'm actually a homebody and love being at home."

Advice for Aspiring Artists

Margaret offers valuable advice to both comedians and musicians, highlighting the importance of maintaining one’s unique voice and resisting commercial pressures to conform. She encourages artists to prioritize their personal expression above all.

Key Quote:

Margaret Cho [32:52]: "Your voice should be the loudest, should be the strongest, should be the most important. You haven't figured out what you're doing. You figure it out, but prioritize your opinion of your art above others."

Future Creative Pursuits

Looking ahead, Margaret expresses her desire to enhance her musicianship. She aims to return to the basics of singing and songwriting, acknowledging areas like vocal warm-ups and treating her body as an instrument that requires care.

Key Quote:

Margaret Cho [34:29]: "I want to be a better songwriter and singer. I need to go back to the basics because, as a comedian, I take so much for granted, but with music, I really need to focus on treating my body with more respect."

Closing Remarks

Buzz wraps up the conversation by congratulating Margaret on her new music and acknowledging her contributions to advocacy and entertainment. The episode concludes with listeners being encouraged to share and follow the podcast for more engaging discussions.

Key Quote:

Buzz Knight [35:56]: "Margaret Cho, it's so great to talk to you on Taking a Walk. Thank you for this. Congratulations on the new music. I'm so excited for you."

Conclusion: This episode of "takin' a walk" offers a comprehensive look into Margaret Cho's dynamic career, blending her talents in comedy and music with her fervent advocacy for social causes. Listeners gain a deeper understanding of her creative processes, inspirations, and the personal growth she has experienced over the years. Margaret's insights underscore the profound impact of art in healing and societal change, making this episode both enlightening and inspiring.