68. Are Comedians Actually Depressed? Death, Grief, and Comedy ft. Kuah Jenhan

<p>Are comedians really just depressed people hiding behind humour? I sat down with Malaysian comedian Kuah Jenhan to talk about the real side of comedy: dealing with grief, performing days after losing his dad, and why death is actually hilarious.</p><p>This conversation went deeper than expected. We talked about his 20-year journey in Malaysian standup, how social media is changing comedy, and his show about his late father that he rewrote after almost a decade.</p><p>If you&#39;ve ever wondered what comedians are really like off stage, or why the funniest people seem to carry the heaviest stories - this one&#39;s for you.</p><p><br></p><p>🎭 ABOUT KUAH JENHAN:Kuah Jenhan is a Malaysian stand-up comedian with nearly 20 years in the scene. He&#39;s known for his narrative-driven comedy style, sharp storytelling, and his ability to make heavy topics like death genuinely entertaining. Recently grew his social media following from 5K to 18.6K in 1.5 years.</p><p>📍 Catch his show &quot;Like This, Like Dad&quot;:</p><ul><li>Penang: November 8, 2025</li><li>KL: November 14-15, 2025</li><li>London: November 27, 2025</li></ul><p>🎟️ Get tickets: <a href="http://kuahjenhan.com/tickets" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">http://kuahjenhan.com/tickets</a>📱 Follow Jenhan: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kuahjenhan/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.instagram.com/kuahjenhan/</a></p><p><br></p><p>📌 TIMESTAMPS:</p><p>0:00 - intro</p><p>1:00 - meet Kuah Jenhan: 20 years in Malaysian comedy</p><p>4:10 - social media changed comedy forever (crowd work era)</p><p>6:38 - “That Show” with Ming Yue</p><p>9:20 - are comedians actually depressed?</p><p>11:11 - comedians and mental health: breaking the stereotype</p><p>13:10 - writing a show about his late father (15 years later)</p><p>15:40 - rewriting &quot;Like This, Like Dad&quot; after a 9-year gap</p><p>20:07 - why death is actually funny (mourners and crematoriums)</p><p>22:36 - Wendy thought she&#39;d die in her 20s (living with no plan)</p><p>25:06 - what &quot;Like This, Like Dad&quot; is really about</p><p>25:57 - how has death and grieving changed Jenhan’s view about life</p><p>29:41 - Jenhan’s thought process in crafting &quot;Like This, Like Dad&quot;</p><p>31:38 - performing days after his dad passed away</p><p>33:33 - comedy as a form of art</p><p>35:01 - the struggle with social media as a comedian</p><p>36:34 - going from 5K to 18.6K followers in 1.5 years</p><p>40:20 - social media as a new art form to master</p><p>46:28 - personality on stage and off stage</p><p>47:45 - upcoming shows: Penang, KL, London</p><p>49:23 - final message: go watch live comedy shows in Malaysia</p><p><br></p><p>🎙️ ABOUT SMALL GIRL BIG TALK:Small Girl, Big Talk is where real conversations meet personal growth. Hosted by Wendy Vaz, this podcast explores the highs and lows of adulthood—from overcoming imposter syndrome to balancing relationships, self-care, and big life changes like weddings and entrepreneurship. Through solo reflections and guest interviews, Wendy offers heartfelt insights and practical advice to help you thrive.</p><p>Subscribe for more authentic conversations that make you think and feel.</p><p><br></p><p>FOLLOW ME FOR MORE:🌻 My Newsletter - <a href="https://wendyvaz.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://wendyvaz.substack.com/</a>🌼 Wendy&#39;s Instagram - <a href="https://instagram.com/wendyvazzy" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://instagram.com/wendyvazzy</a>💛 Wendy&#39;s Tiktok - <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyvazzy" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyvazzy</a>🧡 SGBT Instagram - <a href="https://instagram.com/smallgirlbigtalk" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://instagram.com/smallgirlbigtalk</a></p><p><br></p><p>For Sponsorship and Collaboration: <a href="mailto:hello@wendyvaz.com" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer