Erica Rhodes: A Natural Performer, Comic Timing & Career Growth
Industry Standard w/ Barry Katz
Barry Katz
4.7 • 951 Ratings
🗓️ 2 June 2026
⏱️ 54 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this episode, we sit down with Erica Rhodes to discuss the experiences that led her into comedy, including how a failed audition unexpectedly pushed her toward performing at her first open mic. She shares how she displayed natural comic timing from a young age and how those early experiences helped shape her path as a comedian.
We talk about the impact of her popular Don’t Tell Comedy sets and how opportunities like those can help comedians reach new audiences and grow their careers. Erica also shares insights into the evolving challenge of stand-up, explaining how “killing” on stage can feel inconsistent as your standards and expectations rise over time.
The conversation dives deep into the realities of being a comedian and staying true to your voice while building a lasting career in comedy.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Love and comedy. I'm kind of a masochist, I think. |
| 0:03.0 | There's a part of me that likes pain. |
| 0:05.0 | I'll go back to the same person thinking, oh, it'll be different this time. |
| 0:08.0 | I'm very stubborn. I think I'm more stubborn than people would imagine. |
| 0:12.0 | I don't know if it's a good thing to be that stubborn. I've always been like that. |
| 0:16.0 | Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guest today. |
| 0:23.6 | What an honor, Erica Rhodes. |
| 0:26.6 | Thanks. |
| 0:27.6 | How you doing, Killer? |
| 0:29.6 | I'm doing well. How are you doing? |
| 0:31.6 | I am so good. I have so many things to ask you. |
| 0:35.6 | And you don't know me that well, and I don't know you that well, but I know so |
| 0:42.3 | much about your performing and you know, a lot of people don't understand that I've spent |
| 0:50.3 | hours and hours in the back of rooms, just in the darkness, watching. |
| 0:57.0 | Because I love comedy and I love studying comedy and I, |
| 1:03.0 | and I'm so grateful that I got to start my career with people like Stephen Wright and Paula Poundstone and Bobcat Gullthwaite and |
| 1:14.1 | you know just Rosie O'Donnell just so many |
| 1:19.6 | original Pete voices |
| 1:23.6 | and so |
| 1:26.6 | when I see an original voice with all the kernels of popcorn waiting to pop, trying to get the pop, |
| 1:45.2 | it's an amazing thing to watch. |
| 1:49.7 | Not only do you have, |
... |
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