Not Just His Plus One
She did three sold-out shows the day her grandmother died, built a global comedy career with no team, no manager and no home. This is the raw, funny, deeply human truth behind life as a solo female comedian.Comedian Elena Gabrielle has spent over a decade making the world laugh — 350 shows across 65 countries in a single year, all self-produced, as a woman, alone. But behind the sparkle and the sold-out rooms is a story most comedians never tell: grief, burnout, the loneliness of the road, and the quiet war women still fight to be taken seriously in comedy. In this episode, Ellena opens up about the "sad clown" reality of her job — going on stage the same day she lost the grandmother who raised her and inspired her to perform, cancelling her first-ever US tour to grieve her aunt, and almost walking away from comedy for good. We talk about the "women aren't funny" myth and the patriarchy in the comedy world, the dark side of constant touring ("this isn't living"), being a one-woman business in the age of algorithms, falling in love with a partner who isn't threatened by a strong woman, and how she turned a city she once hated — India — into a home and a love story. This is a conversation for women who know their own mind and know they're meant for more. It's about authenticity on and off stage, surviving grief while the show must go on, leaving a relationship that no longer fit, and never letting the fear of failure decide your life. In this episode: 00:04:26 - Intro & welcome00:05:10 - Always a performer — how she knew comedy was for her00:07:51 - The pressure to be perfect on stage00:10:43 - How much of "stage Ellena" is the real her00:13:45 - When passion becomes a full-time job00:15:15 - The loneliness of the road: "this isn't living"00:18:14 - Do you really need to tour that much?00:19:10 - First international tour & falling for travel00:21:04 - Life as a nomad and choosing her own cities00:23:52 - Running a one-woman business (no team)00:28:40 - Becoming an "algorithm expert" to sell tickets00:32:38 - "Women aren't funny" & the patriarchy in comedy00:39:28 - The stalker DM & how they fought back00:43:13 - Why a funny woman threatens insecure men00:49:43 - Advice for women afraid to take the leap00:53:43 - Performing the day her grandmother died00:58:16 - The sad clown: childhood, grief & why she performs01:03:27 - Where she is now: healing & balance01:10:45 - How AI fits into her life & career01:13:23 - India: from "I hated it" to falling in love01:28:30 - Intercultural love & meeting families01:36:34 - Her name, Croatian-Italian refugee roots01:41:45 - Proudest moment, what matters most, boldest move01:44:00 - Final advice for women who know they're meant for moreGuest: Elena Gabrielle: stand-up comedian, writer & solo touring producer. ▶ Follow me and the podcast: https://www.instagram.com/samarova_/ & https://www.instagram.com/notjusthisplusone/▶ Follow Elena: https://www.instagram.com/elenagabrielle/If this resonated, subscribe and share it with a woman who needs to hear it. Let's grow and glow together.#ElenaGabrielle #femalecomedian #womenincomedy #standupcomedy #griefandhealing #solofemaletraveler #podcast #podcastforwomen #fearoffailure #selfmade #comedypodcast #strongwomen
35 episodes
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