Ep 18: Dr Jason Leong - Malaysia's Top Stand-Up Comedian & Netflix Special Star (Hashtag Blessed)

Dr Jason Leong is a former doctor turned Malaysian stand-up
comedian star who has been enthralling his audience since 2010
when he did his first open mic gig at Zouk, Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.





Since then, he has gone on to, amongst others, 


Be the first Malaysian to win the 7th International HK Comedy
Competition 2013 & win the title of Crowd Favourite;

Perform at Comedy Central’s Stand-Up Asia, Hollywood’s Laugh
Factory & New York’s Gotham Comedy Club; and

Have his own Netflix Special called Hashtag Blessed!!






But how did this all come about? What is Dr Jason’s story &
has he found his “why”?





In this STIMY podcast episode, we dig into:


1.57: What Dr Jason Leong was like as a child

3:23: His experience studying as a medical student in Dublin
& experience of working at an Irish pub; 

6:06: His first open mic gig at Zouk KL & why that
experience was so transformative; 

8:17: How he ended up joining the Malaysia Association of
Chinese Comedians;

13:45: Dr Jason’s first major bomb - which almost caused him
to cry on his birthday!!;

15;29: Winning the 7th International HK Comedy Competition
2013 and performing at Hollywood’s Laugh Factory & New York’s
Gotham Comedy Club (where he got to see Jerry Seinfield perform
in the flesh!)

20:38: Why he won’t be less Malaysian in his stand-up jokes
(to appeal to an international crowd);

24:21: His experience watching the live taping of the Stephen
Colbert Report; 

27:22: Why he spent RM150,000 of his own money to film his
Netflix Special (with no guarantee that anyone would ever buy
it!)

28:47: The process of trying to get Netflix to buy his
Special for 2 years;

31:52: What Jason has been up to during this crazy COVID-19
period; 

33:27: Why not all stand-up comedy jokes translate well to
online platforms/social media;

34:47: The most contentious joke Jason has ever put forward
& why he feels he has never gone “too far”

37:56: The “Fight for Gotcha” Brazillian jiu jitsu fight he
will be having with Ean of Hitz;

39:25: Why stand-up comedy is one of the hardest art forms
you can do; and

So much more!






Show notes: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/18