Vicky Kuperman’s Got Issues

Vicky Kuperman has been doing comedy in New York City for 12 years. And it’s been a pretty consuming commitment. 

“I’ve lived here longer than that, but I blocked that all out,” said Kuperman. 

Now though, she’s adding even more to her plate with a podcast: She’s Got Issues. She launched the podcast earlier this winter, with weekly episode releases. 

“She’s Got Issues brings together experts and comedians with different points of view for a lively and fun discussion to explore the issues facing people, animals and the planet,” said Kuperman. 

She contributes her idea for the podcast to her lifestyle, in particular that she’s been traveling for the majority of her life. First, she moved from Moscow, Russia with her parents as a Soviet Jewish refugee in which her family passed through Vienna and Rome for a month each, then lived in Boston from age 2 on. She has backpacked through Asia, visited the Middle East, went back to Russia, visited South America and Central America—she eloped in Costa Rica—island hopped in Greece and Hawaii and completed a road trip through the United States. 

“I think my curiosity for the world, for the environment, and for different cultures and animals in part motivated me to produce She’s Got Issues,” said Kuperman. 

Before starting her podcast, Kuperman spent six months researching the industry. She wanted her venture into podcasting to be different. 

Her own market—comedy—was fully saturated with podcasts. She also noticed an abundance of sex podcasts and political podcasts. She felt she didn’t have a new angle to add.

Finally, saw something that something missing.

“I thought: what if I develop something non-partisan, talking about the issues facing people, animals and the planet and bring comedians on to keep it light and funny?” said Kuperman. “We’ve lost our way a little bit in the media content I’ve seen. I see headlines, fighting, sound bites, shining a spotlight on the wrong issues. Instead of fighting, why don’t we work together and come up with solutions?”

She wanted to dig down to the roots of issues—and add a comedic edge. Her aim was to create a show that was the antithesis of other political and policy shows. To achieve this required heavy research that has led her to discover new topics and guests for her show as she went along. 

This season’s guest list includes environmental activist Erin Brokovich; Heather Arney, a senior manager at Water.org; John Fugelsang, marine biologist; Frank Quevendo; comedian Sherry Davey; Father James Martin and author Justin Silver.

Check out the first six episodes on iTunes, Spotify or Stitcher.