45. Just Talk Only with Juliana Heng

Host Nicholas Braman interviews Juliana Heng, who left a career in accounting in Malaysia to pursue stand-up comedy and, through performing, better understand their identity. Juliana describes being drawn to comedians’ unfiltered expressiveness, struggling and bombing early on, and using comedy as an escape from an unbearable corporate job before briefly living on savings and taking odd jobs like driving Grab and deliveries. They explain how it took about a year to find their footing by choosing the right topics and learning joke structure, but also how difficult it is to make a living from stand-up. Juliana shares discovering they are autistic after the label was raised at work, later confirming it with professionals, and how naming autism on stage improved audience connection. They discuss masking, being queer and neurodivergent, finding community at Edinburgh Fringe, leaving an emotionally unsafe family home, and defining success as being happy, healthy, and well-loved. Juliana's links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mxjulianaheng/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mxjulianaheng  Podcast links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2h9gsrWKH9C1KY1OzR12kr?si=2a4d19970632465f Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/before-we-get-there/id1775182252 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beforewegettherepodcast/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nicholasbraman Website: https://nicholasbraman.com/podcast   00:00 Introducing Juliana Heng 03:36 Escaping Accounting Life 08:28 Quitting Job And Money Reality 12:16 Realizing Autism Through Comedy 16:20 Naming It And Empowerment 22:26 Labels Without Limits 24:33 Edinburgh Fringe Audience Magnet 32:09 Family Pressure And Control 40:35 Redefining Success Checklist 43:14 Where To Follow And Farewell