We had the good fortune of connecting with Bethany Vee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bethany, what do you want people to remember about you?
Frankly, I would love to be remembered as being equally hilarious, kind, and inspirational. More importantly, I want to live a life where I am unabashedly myself and find humor in the most vulnerable of places. *Most* importantly, I want to inspire humans to embrace their authenticity, history, struggles, growth, to love themselves harder, and to find lightheartedness in their pain.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am on the verge of debuting my first one-person show, “I Have Too Many Feelings.” In hindsight, I realize my entire existence up until the age of 35 has led to this moment. I’ve had the deepest desire to “express myself” since I was young, yet I wasn’t certain which format that would take. That said, making others laugh is in my blood and bones and if I could only do one, that would be it. But as I meandered through my 20’s and early 30’s, hungry for self expression, my lack of focus (ADHD?) and perfectionism hindered my creative flow. I did stand-up, sketch comedy and improv around NYC and Los Angeles for a decade, but nothing satisfied this expression for long. I knew I needed something in addition to silly antics, goofy dancing, and spot-on karaoke rap performances. Thankfully, I was able to find more depth with Maria Wilson, my comedy partner who I’d met doing sketch at Second City Hollywood. We each had similar missions to perform outrageous comedy while encouraging others (and ourselves) to embrace the aspects of our lives that we carry shame around. We created and debuted our award winning self-titled show “Lady Farts” in the 2018 Hollywood Fringe Festival, where we did just that. This experience was a true springboard moment for me. But how could I continue this momentum and tap into my deeper purpose with a little more focus and self-discipline?

Sobriety was the first step for me. For years I stayed in denial, wishing that I could integrate my pot smoking with my comedy, but weed merely perpetuated my distractibility. I enjoyed smoking to the point where I finally recognized that I needed to give it up. While getting sober wasn’t easy, my desire to tap into my deeper purpose became stronger than all of the things I’d allowed to divert my attention for so long. Funny enough, I decided to get sober right before the pandemic began. The timing was perfectly absurd, yet vital to the process that led me to commit to writing my solo show. For anyone reading this who does not trust in their ability to accomplish something, in spite of their deep desire to do so, understand that you are capable. I *gave myself permission* to feel, think, and do whatever I needed to in order to honor my process.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is surely a given, but I’d take them to the damn beach. The beach is beautiful and there is nothing like digging your toes into the warm sand and that initial shock of the cold Pacific Ocean water rolling over your feet. In this fantasy scenario, live theater and concerts are back in action, so I would love to take my best friend to a comedy show at the Groundlings. That said, we’d probably also go to a stand-up show at the Improv or Comedy Store, where well-known comics pop in and regularly do sets. I’d love to go on a hike in one of the hundreds of areas in and around LA that are absolutely perfect for it and we would end an evening with a super non-romantic visit to Mulholland Drive for an awesome night view of the city.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate this shoutout to virtually everyone who has ever supported me creatively and emotionally: my comedy partner Maria Wilson-as together we are “Lady Farts Comedy,” my friends, family, therapists, 12-step meeting fellows, comedy collaborators. I would especially like to dedicate this to those who believe in my comedy and mission and who have challenged me to embrace my authenticity.

Website: www.ladyfartscomedy.com

Instagram: itsbethanyvee

Twitter: Bethany Vee

Facebook: Bethany Vee

Youtube: https://youtu.be/gUzbCSjwv0o

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