Author & TV Personality Kat Timpf On Five Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Career As A Comedian

…We’re limiting ourselves in terms of our relationships, and our freedoms are at risk because of what is ultimately an illusion and manipulation by people who benefit from it. The division helps politicians gain more power, it helps the media make more money, and it gives people a sense of feeling good about themselves without having to do anything at all. So, I’m working against a lot here, but I know for a fact that if we could stop writing each other off over a single difference in viewpoint — or even just an assumption about what someone might be like — we’d be better off. Not just in our personal lives, but as a society on a larger scale. I truly believe that. I just need to get people to read the book…

I had the pleasure of speaking with Kat Timpf, a libertarian commentator, comedian, and television personality. Known for her sharp wit and unique approach to political discourse, Timpf has built a career that spans journalism, comedy, and television, where she offers perspectives that challenge binary thinking and polarized debates. As a co-panelist on the Fox News late-night show Gutfeld!, Timpf blends humor with political commentary, which has become a hallmark of her media persona.

Timpf grew up in the suburbs of Detroit and attended Hillsdale College, where she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English. Her early career was marked by a mix of journalistic and media roles, including working as a digital editor for “The Washington Times” and as a news anchor for NASA’s “Third Rock Radio.” Timpf’s ability to approach complex issues with humor and candor has been a defining trait since she entered the media landscape.

Timpf’s big break came when she joined Fox News as a contributor, quickly becoming a regular presence on the network’s shows. Her libertarian views, which emphasize individual freedoms and limited government, distinguish her from many other political commentators in the often polarized media environment. In addition to her regular role on “Gutfeld!,” Timpf has contributed to programs such as “Fox & Friends,” “Outnumbered,” and “The Five.” Her television career was further solidified with the launch of her Fox Nation show “Sincerely, Kat,” where she responded to viewers’ questions in her characteristically unfiltered and humorous style.

Timpf’s career has also seen her take on roles in print and digital media. She wrote for “National Review” for several years, where she covered a variety of cultural and political topics. Known for her biting commentary and willingness to challenge both sides of the political aisle, Timpf has often found herself at odds with both liberal and conservative factions, making her a unique voice in the political commentary world. Despite this, her commitment to her beliefs, particularly regarding free speech and personal liberties, has garnered her a devoted following.

In addition to her media career, Timpf is also an accomplished author. Her first book, “You Can’t Joke About That: Why Everything Is Funny, Nothing Is Sacred, and We’re All in This Together,” published in 2023, explored how humor can be a tool for addressing sensitive topics and bridging divides in a time of extreme polarization. Her writing was praised for its honesty and for encouraging readers to think critically about censorship and cancel culture. The book reached the New York Times Best Sellers list, further cementing her reputation as a cultural critic unafraid to tackle difficult subjects.

In September 2024, Timpf released her second book, also a New York Times, USA Today and Publishers Weekly Bestseller, “I Used To Like You Until… (How Binary Thinking Divides Us).” This follow-up work takes on the issue of binary thinking, arguing that rigid, oversimplified perspectives are harming political discourse, creativity, and relationships. Drawing from her personal experiences and her decade-long career at Fox News, Timpf presents an argument for embracing complexity and rejecting the idea that people must always choose sides. The book has been lauded for its humor and its incisive critique of modern social and political dynamics.

Beyond her writing and television appearances, Timpf has made a name for herself in the world of stand-up comedy. She has toured the country with her comedy show, “You Can’t Joke About That LIVE,” which sold out venues nationwide. Her comedy often revolves around her personal life, career struggles, and her libertarian views, providing audiences with both humor and food for thought. Timpf’s comedic approach, especially her ability to blend serious political commentary with humor, has set her apart in the crowded field of punditry.

Timpf’s influence extends beyond traditional media. In 2023, she was named to Variety’s “New Power of New York” list, recognizing her as a significant cultural and media figure in one of the world’s most influential cities. Her combination of comedy, political insight, and a refusal to conform to partisan expectations has made her a fixture in American media, particularly among those looking for an alternative to the often hyper-partisan commentary found on cable news.

Throughout her career, Timpf has remained a staunch advocate for free speech and personal liberties, frequently speaking out against what she sees as the dangers of government overreach and societal pressures to conform to particular viewpoints. As a libertarian, she emphasizes individual choice and responsibility, a stance that resonates with many of her followers.

Timpf currently lives in New York City with her husband, Cameron Friscia. With her second book and a nationwide tour ongoing, Timpf continues to be a prominent voice in American media, challenging conventional wisdom, urging audiences to reconsider entrenched beliefs, and providing comic relief in a time of political division. Her ability to engage with both serious political issues and personal vulnerabilities, all while making audiences laugh, makes Kat Timpf a unique figure in today’s media landscape.

Yitzi: So Kat, it’s an honor to meet you. Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn about your personal origin story. Can you share the story of your childhood and how you grew up?

Kat: Well, we moved around the Detroit area until I was in first or second grade. Then we moved to Macomb. It was a pretty normal childhood, I guess — middle-class upbringing. I was really into the outdoors and animals, but I also loved performing, writing, and reading. I always told my parents, “Why do we live here? There are no opportunities or auditions here.” I always wanted to live in New York City when I grew up. I was a good student and knew my parents didn’t have money to send me to college, so I worked really hard in school.

Yitzi: That’s great. So what led you to this successful career as a journalist, comedian, and author?

Kat: It was a long road. I graduated from Hillsdale College and had gotten into Columbia Journalism School. My plan was to do an internship at Fox News, live with my college boyfriend who had a job in LA, and then we were going to break up, and I’d go to Columbia.

But I realized I didn’t have $80,000, and it just seemed ridiculous to take out that kind of loan for Columbia. So, I unenrolled, stayed in LA, and started working in restaurants. I also began doing stand-up comedy along the way. I basically learned the journalism skills for free through my internship. I kept interning, worked in restaurants, and did stand-up because things were pretty rough.

At the time, I was living with my boyfriend — basically just not leaving, which isn’t the best way to fix a relationship. We eventually broke up. I moved into a crappy apartment in a bad neighborhood, but I eventually ran out of money for that too. I had to move in with a bartender I was dating from the restaurant I was working at. It was a mess.

But I really loved doing stand-up. I discovered that getting on stage and making jokes about my dumpster fire of a life, about the things that made me feel powerless, actually gave me a sense of control over them. Eventually, I got a job at the “Washington Times” in D.C., so I moved there and kept doing stand-up.

Then I took a pay cut to work at ‘Campus Reform’ because they wanted me to make videos and train me to do TV, which I was interested in. I kept doing that, and I got a few appearances on Fox — like ‘Fox and Friends.’ I mean, this was so long ago, they’d say, “We need a millennial perspective on Obamacare. Are you in New York?” And I’d say ‘yes,’ even though I wasn’t. I’d just take a bus to New York to be on ‘Fox and Friends.’

One day, I had a video on ‘Campus Reform’ that went viral, and it was on Fox all day. I ended up talking about it on Fox, and Greg Gutfeld saw me and thought, ‘She’s kind of weird. We should have her on ‘Red Eye.’’ So, I did ‘Red Eye,’ and the rest is history. We really hit it off. After that, he started his weekly show, and he had me on as a co-panelist.

Yitzi: It’s unique to be both a journalist and a comedian. Do you feel that doing both complements each other?

Kat: It definitely complements each other. I mean, this book I wrote — it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. It’s my new book, and I honestly think it’s really important, especially at a time like this. I feel like we’re being conditioned to believe that if someone’s in the opposite political party, we have nothing in common with them. And that’s just not true.

I know this from going on tour and meeting all kinds of people. I went to places like Portland, Oregon, and then Midland, Texas. How different are those places? Yet, I learned that while we might have different ideas, a lot of us want the same things — we just have different ideas of how to get there.

Obviously, we’re in a very contentious, polarized time, and examining biases can be difficult. There are forces — whether it’s the media or politicians — that benefit from division. But I think where humor comes in is that this book is also fun to read. It’s a tough and important subject, but it’s funny, which makes it enjoyable. That’s why I think journalism and comedy work so well together. People don’t like being preached at, but everyone wants to laugh.

Yitzi: Amazing point. You probably have some incredible stories from your professional career. Can you share one or two of your favorite anecdotes or memories?

Kat: I mean, I have a lot of stories, honestly. I’m not even sure where to start. I’ve shared a lot in both of my books. In this latest one, I open up about some of the tougher things I’ve gone through — struggles with mental health, career challenges, and relationships. I do that because I believe vulnerability is key to getting out of this mess we’re in. We’re not seeing each other as human as much anymore, and if you want people to see you as human, you have to be willing to show that you are.

I’ve definitely had my share of experiences doing comedy. It’s really fun now that I’m headlining shows and had a great opening weekend recently, but it wasn’t always easy. I struggled for a while. One time, I was opening for a big headliner who, unfortunately, had a meth problem. He would sometimes say things that didn’t exactly match reality, but we still had to roll with it because he was the boss.

I remember a gig in New Jersey where we didn’t have a hotel because he told everyone I owned a condo there, which I clearly didn’t. I took the bus to get there, so I had to figure out where to wash my hair that night. It was wild. I used to take overnight bus trips all the time — Greyhound, Megabus, those sketchy overnight rides — just to do stand-up. It was definitely a struggle for a while, so it’s really exciting to see where things are now.

Yitzi: It’s been said that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Do you have a story about a humorous mistake you made when starting in journalism or comedy, and what lesson you learned from it?

Kat: My whole book, especially my new one, is full of mistakes I’ve made and learned from. It’s absolutely packed with them. I’d say a lot of my relationships were huge mistakes, but I actually thank everyone I dated in my 20s for the content they provided me!

One story I share in my book is pretty dark, but it’s important to talk about. Last summer, I was on Accutane, and it made me suicidal and very depressed. I open up about this in my book and even share my journal from that time. It was a rough period because I was also having panic attacks while reading the teleprompter, which is obviously a big deal in my line of work. I was nervous to include this in my book because you never want to admit to a career weakness, especially not in writing. But I was having complete meltdowns over it.

I decided to share the full story, including my journal, because I think the conversation we’re having about mental health is still missing a lot. We’ve never talked more about mental health, yet we’ve never given less leeway to people actually going through a mental health crisis, especially when it starts to get messy — which it almost always does. When I was going through it, I was probably the last person you’d want to talk to, and I wanted to show that side by including my journal entries and everything else.

I did end up getting coaching for the teleprompter, and I’m off Accutane now, which helped a lot. Even if I hadn’t improved as much as I did — and I’ve improved a lot — I would have handled it better now. What I’ve learned is that opening up can be really scary, but it also really helps. Mental health is a real struggle for many people, and it’s not made any better by a society that seems to show us our mistakes define us.

I think there should be accountability when people make mistakes, absolutely. But it should be accountability for the mistake — not for your whole being.

Yitzi: We love hearing stories where someone a little further ahead opens a door, creates an opportunity, and it changes someone’s life or trajectory. Do you have a story like that, where someone did that for you or where you did it for someone else who wasn’t as advanced as you?

Kat: Yeah, I’d say Greg Gutfeld, right? The day I met Greg Gutfeld changed my life forever, for sure. That’s the most obvious one.

I always wanted to be on his show back when I was living in L.A. and still with a boyfriend. We used to watch his show at my boyfriend’s brother’s house, and I’d say, ‘I’d be so good on that show.’ And my boyfriend’s brother would say, ‘You’re a cashier at Boston Market.’ And he had a point — I was. I don’t think any other Boston Market cashiers have made it on Fox.

But yeah, definitely the day I met Greg. That changed everything.

Yitzi: That’s amazing. So tell us more about your book. Why do we all have to buy it?

Kat: Honestly, we’d be in a better place as a country if everyone read this book. And I know that sounds crazy, but I truly believe it. If you want to win someone over or connect with them, the best way is to focus on what you have in common first. Like I said earlier, we’re being conditioned to think that if someone’s in the opposite political party, we have nothing in common with them. But that’s not true. This book is a guide for people to connect.

I share a lot of my personal experiences — many more than what I’ve mentioned here. Every chapter has a story, and I really believe vulnerability is a huge tool in bringing people together. That’s the whole point behind the cover where I’m naked and covered in hate mail. Being vulnerable makes it more likely someone will have compassion for you and see you as a human. If you want to be seen as a human, you have to be willing to show that you are one.

This is important because we have a lot to lose right now. The conditioning of thinking in binary — us vs. them — works great for the government and media. It helps them gain more power and control through division. Politicians use fear to get votes: ‘If you don’t vote for me, the other side will destroy the country.’ Once in power, they use division to convince us to give up our rights. This book opens your eyes to that manipulation, and it’s also a tool to help you reconnect with people who might have written you off. I explain why you should want to, especially if you care about your relationships and your freedom.

But, like I said, it’s also a fun read. It’s funny, but at the same time, it’s really important right now. Politics makes us fight with people we know on behalf of people who don’t even care that we exist. When you put it that way, it sounds kind of pathetic, but it’s true. That’s really what’s happening.

Putting out a book like this right now is risky because people mostly just want to hear, ‘My side’s the best, and your side is bad.’ If the other side is bad, then people get to feel good just by being on the ‘not bad’ side, and that’s hard for some to let go of. But people are being manipulated, and I probably could have had more success, or made more money, if I’d written a book that went hard for one side or the other.

But this is the book we need right now, so it’s the one I’m putting out there. It’s a big risk, especially with all the personal stories I’ve shared, but it’s worth it.

Yitzi: It feels like what you’re doing is noble, and no one could be opposed to it. What kind of opposition are you getting for trying to unify the country?

Kat: I get opposition from both sides every single day. Since I’m politically independent, I don’t always agree with conservatives, and I don’t always agree with the left either. So, being on Fox, where most viewers lean conservative or are MAGA, I’ll get a lot of hate when I disagree with something Trump has said or if I don’t speak glowingly about him. I’ll get flooded with hate mail from that side.

But then, people on the left flood me with hate mail just for working at Fox in the first place. So, I end up with no allies. If I were to just pick a side, I’d have millions of people who would back me no matter what, just because I’d be “all in” on one side. But I don’t, and that’s not what I believe.

Being in this position also gives me a unique perspective. Working at Fox, I know the things people say about MAGA supporters on the other side aren’t true. I have many wonderful friends who are Trump supporters, and I love them. I also have many wonderful liberal friends, and I love them too. I can’t imagine my life without either group. So, I’m in a unique position to write something like this.

But yes, it’s absolutely a struggle. People say, ‘You’re too scared to pick a side,’ but honestly, my career would be much more lucrative if I just picked one. I’d have guaranteed support, but I can’t do it. It’s just not who I am, and I’m always going to stick to what I believe.

That also allows me to see things more clearly because I’m not beholden to any one side, which is why I could write this book. And this book is so important. I’ve already heard from people who’ve read it and told me it’s opened their eyes. Even people in their 60s and 70s have said, ‘Wow, this showed me things I didn’t realize.’

The real struggle is just getting people to pick up the book and start reading it, because people tend to gravitate towards things they already agree with. They want to be told they’re right. But this book can really teach you something. It can make your life better, improve your relationships, and give you a fresh perspective. And it’s also a fun read.

Yitzi: That’s great. Do you think, using your ideas, you could make the internet more united — like make Twitter more united — or do you think it’s a lost cause, and as technology advances, it’s only going to get worse?

Kat: Yeah, sadly, I do lean toward the view that it’s only going to get worse. I write in my book about research that shows even when algorithms are changed to expose people to content from the other side, it didn’t help — and in some cases, it made things worse. So, what we really need to do is connect as human beings. That’s what it’s about.

It’s difficult, though, because a lot of people benefit from hate. I talk in the book about the idea of hate as a kind of shelter. I also share research that shows moral outrage is often more rooted in self-interest than in altruism. The research found that the more powerless someone feels over a problem, the more likely they are to direct their outrage at someone else — a third-party target — and they feel better when they do.

It makes sense, right? If you can just say, ‘Hey, I’m on the good side,’ then you don’t have to actually think about what to do about these complex problems. You can just blame the other side. I understand why people do it, but it’s really tearing us apart.

I also cover research that shows there’s a huge perception gap between the parties. People on one side drastically overestimate how many people on the other side hold extreme beliefs. So, people aren’t getting to know anyone on the other side; they’re making assumptions, and getting outraged based on those assumptions, which aren’t even rooted in reality.

If we could just realize this — and again, I highlight all of this in my book — we’d be much better off. We could have real conversations about what’s actually happening. I’m not saying politics don’t affect our lives, of course they do, but we’re letting them affect our lives in ways that aren’t necessary or even real. It’s limiting our relationships with each other and stopping us from working together to solve the problems that truly do affect us all.

Yitzi: Amazing point. Is part of your solution that we should try to connect in person more? Like, have in-person gatherings so our relationships aren’t just online, but in person, where we can see the whole human instead of just a small slice of them?

Kat: I think in-person is always better, but I do think it’s possible to connect online too. You just have to approach it differently. I’ve had moments online where someone left me a hateful comment, and I DM them and say, ‘That really hurt my feelings.’ Nine times out of 10, they’ll apologize and say, ‘I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize that.’ It’s because they’re suddenly seeing me as a human being, not just someone who said something on TV that they disagreed with.

And you don’t have to be on TV for that to work. We’re tribal creatures by nature, and it takes effort to push against that conditioning, but it’s worth it. There’s so much to gain.

Binary thinking is the enemy of critical thinking. Once you pick a side, you stop thinking for yourself. All the thinking has already been done for you — you just go along with whatever your side says and call it a day. That’s how stupid things happen, and you’re also limiting yourself creatively. You’re limiting your ability to solve problems, to think outside the box, to create.

For me, all the missed financial opportunities and the challenges of not picking a side have been worth it. What I’ve gained in terms of fulfilling relationships, seeing things clearly, and the ability to create — it’s all been worth it. And I believe our society would flourish if more people started thinking that way.

Yitzi: Do you think part of the problem is that we have just two parties, creating a binary system? If we had something like a parliamentary system, like in Europe, do you think that would make things more united, or would it make things even more fractured?

Kat: There are a lot of ways we’re different from Europe, and there are some ways in which I’d prefer we stay different from Europe. I get into more of my political views in the book, but I do think the two-party system brings specific problems. One big issue is that it enables a lot of corruption. No matter what one side does, there’s always the other side pointing fingers, saying, ‘Well, your side did something worse.’

So, instead of having real conversations, it becomes like that childhood taunt: ‘I know you are, but what am I?’ Except now it’s, ‘Well, I know I am, but what are you?’ It’s just back and forth, deflecting blame, and we never actually address the issues. That’s directly related to the two-party system because it reinforces this cycle of blame and prevents any meaningful dialogue from happening.

Yitzi: You’re really profound, really. Are you a genius?

Kat: No, I don’t know. I’m not a genius. I just think I’m able to see things clearly through independent thought, and that’s what I teach people in this book. It’s a fun read, and anyone can do it if they put in the effort. It is hard, but the book makes it fun.

The sad thing is that we’re not just lacking independent thinking right now — we’re almost unable to recognize it. If I say something negative about Kamala Harris, people assume I’m MAGA. If I say something critical about Trump, they think I’m a communist. It could just be that I have an opinion on a specific thing someone said or did.

We need to get past that kind of binary thinking. This book is really a guide for how to connect, how to see things clearly, and how to enjoy the process. Plus, there are a lot of fun — and sometimes embarrassing — stories in it where you might think, ‘Why would she share that with anyone?’ But it’s because I care about this issue so much.

Yitzi: This is our signature question, and then we’ll wrap up. You’re known as a comedian, and as a very funny person. Can you share with our readers five things you need to create a highly successful career as a comedian?

Kat: Yikes, I don’t really know about five, but here’s what I think is important.

First, you have to not care about failing or how horrible it feels to bomb on stage because everyone is going to bomb at some point. You have to be willing to put yourself out there.

Second, you need to be able to find the funny in almost anything. It’s really about how you view the world. That’s definitely how I see things.

Third, writing is important. Being able to craft jokes and stories is a big part of it, but more than that, you need a real interest in humans and the human experience.

For me, I’ve drawn a lot from the sad things that have happened in my life. I got into comedy because I needed it. I don’t know if that’s true for everyone, but for me, humor came from dealing with tough situations. Since then, I’ve found humor in the mundane, too. It doesn’t always have to be dark.

And lastly, I remember being worried when I met my husband and was in a happy relationship. I thought maybe I wouldn’t be funny anymore because I didn’t have all these disastrous relationships to draw from. But that ended up not being true!

Yitzi: That’s great. Because of the platform you’ve built and your great success, you’re a person of enormous influence. If you could spread an idea or inspire a movement that would bring the most good to the most people, what would that be?

Kat: It would be exactly what I talk about in this book. That’s why I wrote it — I really want people to read it. We’re limiting ourselves in terms of our relationships, and our freedoms are at risk because of what is ultimately an illusion and manipulation by people who benefit from it. The division helps politicians gain more power, it helps the media make more money, and it gives people a sense of feeling good about themselves without having to do anything at all.

So, I’m working against a lot here, but I know for a fact that if we could stop writing each other off over a single difference in viewpoint — or even just an assumption about what someone might be like — we’d be better off. Not just in our personal lives, but as a society on a larger scale. I truly believe that. I just need to get people to read the book.

Yitzi: How can our readers continue to follow your work? How can they purchase the book? How can they support you in any way?

Kat: My website is therealkattimpf.com. You can get the book there, and you can also get tickets to my live shows. It’s all there.

Yitzi: Amazing. Kat, it’s really been a delight and a pleasure to meet you. I learned a lot from this conversation. Thank you. I wish you continued success, and I hope we can do this again next year.

Kat: Yeah, thank you so much. I really appreciate it.