Comedian He Huang on Challenging China’s One-Sided Narratives

This week on Dam Yankee, host Zack Newmark talks to Chinese comedian He Huang, the rising star whose career exploded after her viral Australia’s Got Talent audition garnered over 60 million views but also triggered a fierce cultural backlash back home. Huang, who traded a path in public policy analysis for the stage, explains that comedy is the truest platform to "say whatever I want," and that this freedom is precisely why her material, which challenges established cultural norms, is so empowering.

Huang shares her philosophy on why her humor is the "highest form of critique." Having studied public policy and observed different political systems, she recognized that in her home country, "only one voice is allowed." She explains that her use of comedy directly pushes back on the societal teaching that tells Chinese women, "The problem is you," giving her a sense of "self value" and power that she had never felt before.

Her unconventional journey began in an unexpected place: a free comedy class at a local library in Arlington, Virginia, while she was a graduate student at Georgetown University. That first gig convinced her, "Okay, this is it. I'm never going to stop." Though her European tour plans were recently derailed by a last-minute visa issue, Huang joins the podcast from London, expressing a firm commitment to reschedule her canceled shows in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

Don't miss this candid conversation as He Huang discusses navigating the tricky balance between global fame and domestic criticism. She explains how easily her jokes are taken out of context by flat translations, and why she believes the attempts to silence her are futile. The full episode is available on all podcast platforms.

The full episode of Dam Yankee is available on all podcast platforms, and can also be seen on YouTube.

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