ReThinking: Following your purpose (not your passion) with comedian Zarna Garg

The podcast explores the career transition of Zarna Garg, a stand-up comic, screenwriter, and author, from failed entrepreneur to successful comedian. Zarna recounts how her daughter inspired her to try comedy after witnessing her unsuccessful business ventures. She details her initial resistance, her first open mic experience trashing her mother-in-law, and her surprise at connecting with audiences through relatable, specific stories. The conversation covers her joke-writing process, including analyzing audience reactions through audio recordings, and her evolving views on balancing STEM education with humanities. Zarna also shares her unconventional approach to finding a partner, including the text of the ad she placed that led to her marriage.