Episode 60: Brittany Cardwell - False Memories, True Comedy

Brittany Cardwell is a stand-up comedian based in New York City.Instagram and all episodes(00:00) Intro – Moving from New Zealand to New York for comedy(03:12) Early comedy beginnings in Dunedin(05:20) How false memory research became her academic path(08:40) The rise of “recovered memories” and 1980s therapy culture(12:25) Experiments creating false childhood memories(16:05) How imagination and photos distort real memories(19:20) False confessions and eyewitness bias in the justice system(23:05) The horse-cue study and unconscious suggestion(26:40) Personal story of being robbed and memory distortion(30:10) Anchoring, availability, and why memory feels like truth(33:15) Leaving academia: the myth of professorial freedom(37:20) Turning to stand-up and improv after heartbreak(41:00) Realizing comedy had always been the hidden calling(45:05) Life in New Zealand’s small comedy scene and first big wins(48:50) The decision to quit academia and move to New York(52:40) Adjusting to New York comedy life and financial realities(56:15) Why she keeps going through rejection and grind(59:20) What she loves to joke about – stupidity, self-awareness, and truth(62:15) Performing at Flop House, releasing her first special, and closing reflections