We recently connected with Cassie Duncan and have shared our conversation below.

Cassie, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I couldn’t be happier to be a stand-up comic! There is a feeling I can’t describe when I am able to connect with an audience and make them laugh at jokes I wrote! I do wonder what it would be like to have a regular job. I would probably be able to go out to Chipotle without checking my bank account.

Cassie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

When it comes to my career in radio (currently at KCJK 105.1 The X), I started out as a college intern and worked my way up, getting employed in the promotions department, and eventually on-air! With stand-up comedy, I started going to multiple open mics a week and not only performed my original comedy but networked as much as I could. This lead to me getting booked on shows. What sets me apart? This one is probably obvious but being a trans woman sets me apart in most situations. While not all of my comedy material is about my trans experience, I love being able to take what I have gone through and make it relatable (and hopefully funny) to anyone. Every time I go up on stage I am so proud to be a part of trans representation and to help normalize our existence! In general I am so proud of how hard I have worked for my jokes/bits and that now it’s paying off in the way of being booked on a good number of shows each month including the show I host at Crane Brewing called, ‘Sour Batch Kids!’ I want you to know that I am always giving you my 100% especially now that I am living as 100% me!

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

While Glennon Doyle’s book, “Untamed” is about her experience as a lesbian, I believe the overall message can be applied to anyone. That life is too short to live as who you were told to be and to start living as who you really are. I will never forget the moment I read this line from the book, “What is better: uncomfortable truth or comfortable lies?” This book has truly helped me see things in a completely different way and given me the strength to do things like sit down and come as a trans woman to my family or to get back into stand-up comedy even though I was very nervous about it.

How did you build your audience on social media?

When it comes to my Tiktok (hashtagcassie), I have built up my audience by being honest, conveying that honesty in an engaging way, and posting consistently. Say something right off the bat that basically gives the ending of the story away but not fully which will hook people in. Then say your piece but keep it brief. Keep working at it even if you don’t feel like you’re gaining any traction in the beginning. Always work to improve your content. Look at what you have done and ask what you could have done better.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hashtagcassie
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassie-duncan123?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/hashtag_cassie
• Other: Tiktok — hashtagcassie