Comic Jenny Slate, known for her roles in Marcel the Shell with Shoes On and voice work in animated films like Zootopia and Big Mouth, is back with a new stand-up special, Seasoned Professional. In this latest comedy venture, Slate delves into the emotional rollercoaster of her life, from childbirth to therapy, and the impact it has had on her as a person and a performer.

Having started her career in improv and transitioning to stand-up in her early 20s, Slate brings her raw and vulnerable self to the stage. Describing herself as a ‘very sensitive’ person, she fearlessly shares her experiences, even delving into her tendency to absorb the emotions of those around her, a quality she humorously refers to as picking up on the ‘micro bad mood’ of others.

With the birth of her daughter in 2021, Slate admits that motherhood has brought about changes in her, stripping away some of her superficial concerns and leaving her more exhausted but with the same core personality. Her openness and authenticity shine through as she candidly expresses how her thoughts and emotions are transparently projected onto her husband.

Reflecting on her journey, Slate opens up about her approach to comedy and the evolution of her material. She emphasizes that her comedy is not a contrived effort to manufacture humor out of her life experiences but rather a natural, unfiltered expression of her reality. She also acknowledges her initial self-consciousness about her self-focused content and the subsequent shift towards channeling her sensitivity into empathy for others.

Through her stand-up, Slate offers a glimpse into her inner world, where her emotions and experiences become the crux of her comedic narrative. Her ability to transform personal vulnerabilities into relatable and humorous anecdotes sets her apart as a ‘Seasoned Professional’ in the world of comedy.