We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jessica Saul. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jessica below.

Jessica , appreciate you joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

Comedy is an artistic pursuit that makes you want to quit every single day, while at the same time making you dream the biggest dreams imaginable. It’s quite confusing for my brain to process, as one can imagine. But I confuse my brain a lot—like when I say I’m not going to eat dairy because it makes my stomach hurt, but then I eat an entire block of cheese. Like… are you allergic or not?

Making a room full of people laugh does something to you. When I have a great show, I am on top of the world—floating around with an out-of-body, euphoric sense of joy that I can’t even begin to explain. I love bringing joy to others. But when a show goes badly, like a true bomb, I spiral. I go home, crawl into bed, and start researching graduate programs. I convince myself I should become a therapist or move to a small town and open a cafe—under a different name, of course, because clearly I’ll have to abandon my entire legal identity after that set.

The last time I had that thought was after a gig I drove 1.5 hours to, where I was paid the very fancy fee of… a single beer. There were three people in the audience. At a certain point, I almost put the microphone down and said, ‘Do you guys just want to have a conversation? Like, what are we even doing here?’ I could feel the awkwardness in my bones. I was writing the draft of my new LinkedIn profile while I was still on stage.

But I say all this dramatically—and jokingly, of course—because the truth is, I do have another job that I sometimes wouldn’t even consider a job (and that’s not just because I don’t get paid enough). I’m the Program Director for EPIC Players Los Angeles, a nonprofit neurodiverse theater company dedicated to providing free, accessible education and paid performing arts opportunities to neurodivergent and disabled artists. It’s a role that constantly reminds me that performing arts are not just about entertainment—it’s about empowerment, self expression, and equity. I’ve seen firsthand how transformative it can be when someone is finally given the stage they were always meant to shine on. I get to help create those moments, and it’s an honor to be a part of an inclusive community that supports the hell out of one another in an industry that is very unforgiving.

At the end of the day, I will always be dedicated to making comedy—it has been the greatest passion of my life. If I get to make money doing that, it’s a bonus. And as for my work with EPIC, I’m committed to giving space and opportunities to others who haven’t always been invited to take up space. I’m forever grateful for the chance to do both of these things professionally—to create, whether it’s my own comedy, or the opporunities for others to shine.

I guess the throughline is that both jobs bring me joy because they give joy to others. So, will I ever quit to get a 9–5 in marketing or tech? No. Will I continue to fantasize about what said job would do to my bank account? Yes. But I wouldn’t change what I do for the world.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Jessica Saul—I’m a comedian, content creator, and nonprofit theater program director, which basically means I spend most of my time toggling between writing sketches, filming characters in my bathroom, and running a theater program.

I create original comedic content on social media, where I create characters and sketch comedy—often through a playful lens that’s grounded in emotional truth. I also collaborate with brands to develop comedic engaging content for their social pages.

Alongside my creative work online, I’m also the Program Director for EPIC Players, a neurodiverse theater company that provides free, accessible education and paid performing arts opportunities to neurodivergent and disabled artists. I believe that storytelling is most powerful when more people are given the chance to tell their stories. With EPIC, I help build those opportunities—whether that’s casting actors who haven’t always been seen, or creating spaces where their talents are celebrated and paid for.

I’m most proud of the community I’ve built and the one I get to be part of. From the followers who comment on my sketches saying “this” to the EPIC artists I get to work with who are boldly taking up space in an industry that hasn’t always welcomed disabled talent—I’m constantly inspired by the people around me.

If you’re a brand looking to make meaningful, funny content—or a fellow creative wanting to connect—I’d love for you to check out my work. Whether I’m making people laugh, amplifying voices, or directing traffic to a brand in a creative way, my mission stays the same: to create with purpose.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I try to make authenticity at the heart and core of everything I create. Whether I’m making a video, developing new stand-up material, or partnering with a brand, my goal is always to express myself as truthfully as possible. People connect to people—so the moment I catch myself making a video just because I think it might go viral, I stop and ask: why do things actually go viral? Because people connect with them. Because they resonate. And also—because dogs doing silly things or people falling up stairs is hilarious.

Since I started doing stand-up, a lot has changed. The landscape is crowded, crowd work clips are going viral on social media, and it can be tempting to follow trends just to keep up. But I always come back to what feels real. If I’m not connected to what I’m saying, how can I expect anyone else to be?

I’m not interested in pretending to be someone I’m not, or chasing content just because it’s trending. I’m interested in what makes people laugh because they see themselves in it. Audiences are smart—they can feel when something is genuine, and when it’s not. That’s why I root all my work in my own experiences, perspectives, and quirks. That’s where real connection happens.

At the end of the day, my mission is to create comedy that feels honest, reflects a range of lived experiences, and brings joy without sacrificing truth. Authenticity is a core value. And it’s the throughline in everything I do.

And since we’re on the subject of authenticity, this same philosophy is what fuels my advocacy for how disabled people are represented in our film/tv and media. Stories about disabled people should be written with depth, nuance, and truth—rooted in real lived experiences—and they should be portrayed by actors who actually share those experiences. No ifs, ands, or buts. Representation without authenticity is a grave injustice to those talented individials who have the right to tell their own stories.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Beth Pickens’ book “Make Your Art No Matter What” had a huge impact on my thinking as a creative. I’ve always struggled to give myself permission to rest, or I’ve labeled myself as lazy or a procrastinator when I couldn’t get everything done exactly as I envisioned. This book completely shifted that mindset.

Pickens writes with such compassion and clarity about the emotional realities of being an artist—especially in a world that often undervalues creative work. She reframes productivity and discipline not as moral obligations, but as tools that can support a sustainable creative life. That message really landed with me.

One of the most liberating takeaways was the idea that all work is work. Housework is work. Creative work is work. Emotional labor is work. And all of it can be exhausting. I used to beat myself up if I spent a day doing errands or cleaning and didn’t also write a script or edit a video. This book helped me realize that I wasn’t lazy—I was just doing multiple kinds of labor that all demand energy. That shift allowed me to stop punishing myself for not “doing enough” and start recognizing the full scope of what I am doing.

As someone with raging ADHD who always bites off more than they can chew, “Make Your Art No Matter What” gave me a more compassionate framework for how I approach time, creativity, and rest. It reminded me that art doesn’t have to be made under pressure. It can be made from a place of care—for myself, and for the work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jessicataylorsaul.com
• Instagram: @bettercalljsaul
• Other: Epic players: www.epicplayersnyc.org
  @epicplayersla

Image Credits

Sam Skolnik- Black Outfit Titled “Show”
Kevin Kraus- EPIC photo on Stage + group photo
Kiel Philips- Stage Photo with green sweater
Ella Schafer- Head shot photo