Felicia is Funny…. no way around it. A few minutes on the phone with her and you find yourself giggling.
I met Felicia a few months ago; she reached out to me after reading my farewell love letter to my friend Robin on Kuel Life. After a brief conversation, I knew I had to haver her as a guest on Kuel Chiefs Episodes where we chatted about the MIDLIFE REINVENTION epidemic – ‘Never Too Old To Be Funny’.
Felicia Madison went from stay at home mother of three to stand up comedian, new talent director at West Side Comedy Cub, producer of comedy shows and MT Nester Podcast. How’s THAT for a peculiar strain of the affliction?
Here is Felicia’s story:
KUELLIFE: What are you pursuing now, at this stage of your life, that surprises you or might appear to others as if it comes out of left field
FELICIA: I think everything I am pursuing right now is surprising people. I am an upper east side stay at home mother of three turned stand up comedian—doesn’t get stranger than that.
KUELLIFE: What’s a typical day like for you?
FELICIA: I started meditating five years ago, right before I started my new career..coincidence? I meditate every morning for twenty minutes, read the paper cover to cover with a cup of coffee. I work out , either pilates, a run, or weight train. I try to write every day for 20 minutes then it is off to West Side Comedy Club to run a mic and perform. I spend the afternoons doing some catch up work, social media, preparing for shows, and researching for and editing Mt Nesters podcast. Evenings, if I am not out performing, I am home with my family.
“I struggle with technology.”
KUELLIFE: With what do you struggle?
FELICIA: I struggle with technology.
KUELLIFE: How do you motivate yourself and stay motivated?
FELICIA: Meditation has really kept me focused and motivated. I am supposed to meditate twice a day but usually cannot find the time. However, If I find myself in a rut and can’t motivate, I will sit down and meditate and that usually gets me going again. If that doesn’t work, I pace my apartment yelling at myself…‘you can do this! You can solve this problem!’
KUELLIFE: What advice would you give fellow women about aging?
FELICIA: I would advise the young girls to not stress about it. I hear a lot of 30-year-old comedians complaining about getting old and I just have to roll my eyes. Every day is the best day you are going to have so enjoy and appreciate it. Also, I still feel like I am 25 on the inside; so just stop looking in the mirror if it upsets you.
KUELLIFE: What does vulnerability mean to you? What has the ability to make you vulnerable?
“Social Media makes me vulnerable.”
FELICIA: Social Media makes me vulnerable. Looking at what others are doing and accomplishing makes me feel bad about myself – which is my vulnerability. I know of course that social media is not reality, but it is hard not to believe what you see. I try not to look anymore.
KUELLIFE: What are three events that helped to shape your life?
FELICIA: Marriage, Motherhood, and Comedy.
KUELLIFE: Who influenced you the most in life and why?
FELICIA: Wow, this is a tough question to answer and makes me realize I did not really have any great role models influencing me professionally. I haven’t found many women nurturing and helpful in terms of career; but more competitive and mean spirited. It hasn’t been until now that I have found a handful of supportive women. With that said; there are still a large group of women out there that haven’t realized that we need to stick together and help one another.
KUELLIFE: What is the best advice you’ve been given from another woman?
FELICIA: Don’t look left; don’t look right; keep your eye on the prize.
KUELLIFE: What woman inspires you and why?
FELICIA: I would say any woman that seems to be able to balance career and work life…it seems impossible to me.
KUELLIFE: Are you grown-up?
FELICIA: lol your joking right…
KUELLIFE: What do you do for self-care?
FELICIA: I meditate, work out, and if that doesn’t do the trick a nice glass of wine and a hot bath.
KUELLIFE: And last but definitely NOT least: What are the top three things on your bucket list?
FELICIA: I joke that I have a bucket list of places I want to go but I think the only way I will get to all of them is if I go with my children…in a bucket..sprinkle a little here a little there..Other than travel, I would like to do an hour special and write and produce a movie or tv pilot.
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