Laughing Through Life: Sketch Comedy and Storytelling with Isaiah Headen
Open your ears to 'The Truth in This Art' podcast, where Rob Lee is at the helm. Our today’s guest Isaiah Headen is a multifaceted artist based in Washington, DC, renowned for his roles as a filmmaker, photographer, and writer. A pivotal member of the sketch comedy troupe Bad Medicine, Isaiah has cultivated his passion for comedy through a dynamic upbringing in a close-knit family that found unity in humor. Embracing inspiration from legendary comedians like Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy, alongside the world of animation and sketch comedy, Isaiah's creative journey has been illuminated by his diverse influences. Adept at crafting engaging narratives through filmmaking and photography, he skillfully weaves stories across various mediums.
About Bad Medicine Comedy Troupe
Bad Medicine was conceived over a plate of tater tots in 2013 and has since flourished into an award-winning sketch comedy troupe that produces sketch shows and teaches sketch comedy at the historic DC Improv Comedy Club. Outside of the District, we’ve performed at comedy festivals such as SF Sketchfest, NYC Sketchfest, Montreal Sketchfest, Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, SketchFest Seattle, and Philly Sketchfest. We also produce Sketch Nerds a comedy podcast about the craft of sketch comedy and our award-winning short films have screened at the DC Shorts Film Festival, Women in Comedy Festival, Portland Comedy Film Festival, Atlanta Comedy Film Festival, and more. Bad Medicine is run by Elizabeth Kemp, Isaiah Headen, Julian Morgan, Shoa Appelman, Andy Weld, and Leila Drici. Bad Medicine is simply a group of friends trying hard to forget the political town they live in.
About Bad Medicine Comedy Troupe
Bad Medicine was conceived over a plate of tater tots in 2013 and has since flourished into an award-winning sketch comedy troupe that produces sketch shows and teaches sketch comedy at the historic DC Improv Comedy Club. Outside of the District, we’ve performed at comedy festivals such as SF Sketchfest, NYC Sketchfest, Montreal Sketchfest, Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, SketchFest Seattle, and Philly Sketchfest. We also produce Sketch Nerds a comedy podcast about the craft of sketch comedy and our award-winning short films have screened at the DC Shorts Film Festival, Women in Comedy Festival, Portland Comedy Film Festival, Atlanta Comedy Film Festival, and more. Bad Medicine is run by Elizabeth Kemp, Isaiah Headen, Julian Morgan, Shoa Appelman, Andy Weld, and Leila Drici. Bad Medicine is simply a group of friends trying hard to forget the political town they live in.
In this installment, we:
- Dive into Isaiah's comedic roots, exploring how his family's humor-driven bonds during his upbringing have molded his unique comedy writing style and perspective.
- Explore the comedic influences that shape Isaiah's work, from the classic brilliance of Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy to the playful world of cartoons and sketch comedy, dissecting how these inspirations thread through his comedy.
- Uncover the creative process behind Isaiah's comedy writing, tracing the journey from initial joke or idea to fully developed sketch, and how collaboration with his comedy troupe plays a pivotal role in refining his material.
- Delve into Isaiah's approach to comedy content, discussing his focus on creating sketches that cleverly capture the absurdities of the world while avoiding the pitfalls of making fun of individuals.
- Engage with Isaiah's perspective on the evolution of comedy, as he explores the dynamic relationship between humor and societal change, emphasizing the importance of embracing fresh perspectives to keep comedy relevant and impactful.
Isaiah shares his journey into comedy writing, his influences, and his writing process. He discusses how his upbringing in a humorous family shaped his comedic style and the importance of finding joy in comedy. Isaiah also talks about the challenges of balancing his filmmaking background with the flexibility required for sketch comedy writing. He reflects on the need for comedy to evolve with changing times and shares his approach to writing sketches that focus on the absurdity of the world rather than making fun of individuals. Throughout the conversation, Isaiah's passion for comedy and storytelling shines through as he shares his experiences and insights.
Mentioned in this episode:
🎧🌟 Don't forget to rate and review this episode to support the best in podcasting! 🌟🎧
This program is supported (in part) by a grant from the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation.
If you have a story about art, culture, or community, share it with us at rob@thetruthinthisart.com for a chance to be featured on 'The Truth In This Art' podcast.
Follow The Truth In This Art on Twitter, Threads, IG, and Facebook @truthinthisart
Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard.
Episode illustration by Alley Kid Art.
About "The Truth In This Art"
If you have a story about art, culture, or community, share it with us at rob@thetruthinthisart.com for a chance to be featured on 'The Truth In This Art' podcast.
Follow The Truth In This Art on Twitter, Threads, IG, and Facebook @truthinthisart
Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard.
Episode illustration by Alley Kid Art.
About "The Truth In This Art"
"The Truth In This Art," hosted by Rob Lee, is a podcast that explores the essence of creativity and its community impact, amplifying artists' voices and their profound stories.
Connect with me:
Support the show:
