S01E21 Evelyn Mok, Swedish / Cantonese speaker - From Gothenburg, Sweden 🇸🇪

Evelyn Mok is well known for being the former co-host of the (now retired) Rice to Meet You Podcast and the creative mind behind multiple popular sketches. The Swedish native is also one of the highest-profile comedian of East Asian heritage in the UK, who now spends her time between both countries.Evelyn talked about how the feeling of being "other'ed in Sweden in her childhood prompted her to mimic a near perfect American accent as an escape. She also shared the cadence employed earlier in her comedy career - partially a remnant of getting out of a stage character and partially her understanding at that time of how funny should sound like.This episode also includes Evelyn's reflection on her relationship between stand up (more specifically doing stand up in the UK) and depression and why it can be a complex mix. She has prioritised taking care of her own mental health and is now a in better place again to pursue her love for stand up.---------------------------------Follow Evelyn on InstagramFollow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter----------------------------------If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review.For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com----------------------------------Episode timeline00:48 Intro (& some chitchat)05:19 Where did Evelyn’s get her near perfect American accent from and why was young Evelyn determined to mimic the American accent?08:45 Why ethnic minority immigrants are more likely to try stand up comedy09:55 Can Evelyn’s American accent fool native speakers?11:05 When Evelyn’s Swedish sound slips13:00 Different Nordic sounds and stereotypes (inc. some Eurovision chat)16:54 Evelyn might not have to explain her accent but needs to address her background - because of her ethinicty - if she wants to mention Sweden21:25 Evelyn’s old “cadence” - the way Evelyn used to speak on stage - and the character she used to employ24:58 How “Funny” sounded to Evelyn30:21 Depression; how it affected Evelyn’s stand up33:12 From a character to a stage persona to finally be her true self37:44 Evelyn can only manage this American accent41:07 Is Evelyn more fluent in English than in her native Cantonese?41:52 Re-discovering her Swedishness and Asianness -45:15 Looking back on a therapy like—episode47:27 Evelyn’s social media---------------------------------Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe