We were lucky to catch up with HB Ridley recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi HB, thanks for joining us today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

The legacy I am hoping to build is one based on direct philanthropy. I am a comedian, but I am also a victim of the American capitalist system. One of the main ways that many of us are combating these hard times, is by loaning money to each other and/or bartering services/goods. I want to use my gift of making people laugh to obtain wealth, with which I then will use to not only sustain my family, but directly help others.

I grew up in the projects of Kansas City on 12th and Woodland. It was not easy for my family and even now as an adult, budgeting is difficult because you’re juggling low funds with many expenses. I dream of the day where I can simply ask people “what do you need” and provide the financial resource. The decrease in stress alone that others will have could add days onto their lives. That impact means a lot to me.

My legacy will live through my work and my son, but I want to be remembered for caring. I care deeply about my community and the people that reside in it. Many people turn up their noses at “the ghetto”, but I am proud to be from it. It has not only shaped me into who I am today, but is a pivotal part of my legacy. The ghetto made me, ME.

HB, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

hbfromkc is a content creator, comedian, host, and show producer born, raised, and based in Kansas City, MO. (She is available to host your birthday party, baby shower, or anything in between!) By intertwining current events with quick wit and off the wall perspectives, she challenges her audience to: laugh. think. repeat. Whether hosting, producing shows, writing, or otherwise, the heart of hbfromkc is people. She absolutely loves her community. Well everyone, honestly.

HB realized she loved comedy and being on stage in middle school. She was the shy fat girl in class (fat is not a bad word!) so she typically stayed silent. Going into her freshman year, she discovered an improv class at the high school she was about to enter. It was magical for her. She has been on stage ever since.

Her high school experience included 4 years of theater, 4 years of debate, and multiple roles within Student Government. HB prides herself on being of service to people.

When HB briefly attended K-State, she went to major in Theater and Political Science (to please her Mom), but her heart was the stage. Due to financial reasons, she left K-State, came back home, and then gave birth to her son. He is now 14 and her proudest most precious thing.

While back in Kansas City, she did improv with KC Improv Co, produced shows, done improv, stand-up, and sketch at The Bird Comedy Theater, and a host of other open-mics, headline and feature shows. Currently, she hosts a bi-weekly open mic at Java Garage in KCMO.

In 2017, HB moved to Atlanta, GA with hopes of learning show production and screenwriting. Here is where she began her standup career, performing at legendary comedy clubs such as: The Laughing Skull, Uptown Comedy Theater, and ATL Comedy Club. She went on to win WobbleTV’s Girls Got Jokes competition. HB also cultivated her screenwriting experience, writing her comedic mockumentary pilot “inc.” which is planned to be produced this summer.

Her corporate background includes 15 years of customer service experience, all of which required her to work with people. She continuously excels with communication, as her love for language and understanding humanity shines through her work.

What sets HB apart is her ability to communicate effectively and retain knowledge. This comes in handy within the corporate workplace as well as in comedy. At work, she is able to cultivate ideas and lead teams, ensuring each member is engaged and heard. In comedy well, sometimes you have a heckler and hbfromkc knows how to handle them.

As a comedian and comedic writer, she is most proud of her ability to be funny and truthful without being offensive. Comedians who claim that “cancel culture doesn’t let them do anything” are pretty lame to HB. She believes they simply need to “step the pen up.” You CAN be funny without being offensive, and HB is proud that she can and continues to hone that skill.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

While living in Atlanta pursuing my comedy career, I was laid off from my job while on medical leave. There were other personal things going on back home, and it sent me on a downward spiral. My mental health was at its worst, I had no money, and was living in my car during a rough winter.

I had no family. I really had no one. But I kept going to shows, kept showing up to gigs I signed up for. I showered at a local business, the owner was really sweet.

I did end up returning home later on in 2021 and now in 2024 I live in my own home and have a better car. I am thankful for the adversity I faced, as it humbled me and taught me that not everyone looks like their story. If my audiences back then knew that their $20-30 in tips was feeding me and putting gas in my car, their jaw would drop. Today, my mental health has done a 180 and I am on a positive path continuing to be healthy.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

My side hustle for awhile was comedy. While working in tech as an IT Specialist, I found it difficult to merge my passion for creativity and comedy with a profitable career. So, I did stand-up at night and during the day I worked from home. I was recently laid off from that job, and am on the path to merging the two myself. I realized that my skills align with a career as a Creative Strategist or Creative Director. In either role, I will be able to cultivate creative ideas and see them through phase by phase. Project management is a passion of mine as well, so I use that to my advantage when scheduling my comedy shows/hosting events.

When I first began comedy in 2017, I performed at the Laughing Skull in Atlanta. At the time, I just attended an open mic night to give it a try, not knowing it’s one of the most famous comedy clubs in the country. I did very well without much written material and improvised. To this day it is still one of my best sets.

An audience member stopped me after my show at Laughing Skull and asked if she could hire me to be in a promo video for her new card game. I accepted. I then continued to accept “influencer” type gigs, such as audience member for the TV show Wild N Out, multiple acting auditions, and several gigs doing tech for music video shoots.

Today, I am a full time comedian and host, currently seeking a career but also enjoying my freedom from corporate America. I am honestly not sure what is next for me, as I have irons in multiple fires. I guess we will have to wait to see which one lights first.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hbfromkc?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hbfromkc?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-ridley1
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/H_Baeee
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@hbfromkc?si=kOv0Z7dZy1HWZ6lZ
• Other: https://linktr.ee/hbfromkc