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A major cultural phenomenon, how has this distinctly American art of comedy managed to transcend language barriers and cultural differences to spread across the globe? From New York to Kyiv, this episode takes us to the farthest reaches of stand-up territories, even into war zones where comedians strive to resist armed with nothing but their microphone.

Women were long kept away from the microphone. It wasn’t until the 1960s that the quiet revolution of women in stand-up began. Today, all predictions have been defied, and no one can deny the comedic power of performers like Blanche Gardin or Ali Wong, who bring the full spectrum of the female experience to the stage.

Stand-up comedy has gradually become a tool for the empowerment of all identities. By moving beyond comedy clubs to conquer streaming platforms and social networks, it has been exposed to the world, at the risk of shocking audiences and, perhaps at times, losing its way. In becoming a vehicle for political discourse, has stand-up forgotten its primary mission: to make people laugh?