MAA #077: With Justine Sless

Mental As Anyone

Interview with the wonderful, worldly and wise Justine Sless, who is not only an experienced Comedian: she also writes in various forms, run comedy workshops and has created her own festival (The Melbourne Jewish Comedy Festival). Other works by Justine include a Podcast (Kvetch with Sless) and a Blog (Excuse me there are crumbs in my comedy). She is also a Mother, completing her Masters, and doing extraordinary work in the Community/Non-Profit sector.

We discuss: The agency of performing comedy, experiencing misogyny, anti-Semitism and racism in comedy rooms, wanting to effect a change within the community, involvement with Raw House and Spark Theatre, Justine’s family tree and the creation of her festival in 2015, articulating culture through comedy, the points of difference in her festival to the commercial festivals, the aim of connecting people, the importance of natural gathering places and creating opportunity to connect, the challenge of raising teenagers, Justine’s European tour, being a Jew of the World, effecting change on a micro level to create opportunities for connection, care and compassion, finding light where there was darkness, remembering what we share in our humanity rather than our differences, Justine’s super power, being guided by integrity and morality, and Justine’s message of managing mental health by connecting with others in meaningful ways.