I first would like to say I find you so interesting, I guess sort of dynamic because you seemed to have achieved a lot in life and at a young age. You’re a comedian, radio host, writer and you have your M.A in Teaching! That’s awesome.  I feel inspired by you because I am interested in different field/industry’s that are not similar to each other like teaching, make-up design, and writing, but from your bio I feel as though it IS possible to do it all.

Thank so much, Denise! That is so kind of you to say. I’m fascinated by make-up and I’m a big fan of the late Kevyn Aucoin. I’m always so interested in what make-up artists can do. Your canvas is the human face, which is thrilling and incredible to me.

CG: So, which field did you enter first?

Oh, I entered teaching first. I joined AmeriCorps, the domestic Peace Corps, and served in New Mexico from 2004 to 2005. I taught creative writing, literature and VERY basic hatha yoga for a year in New Mexico. Then I moved to New York and got my M.A. in teaching at Teachers College at Columbia University. One of my classmates at Teachers College had just left a job at Comedy Central, and she encouraged me to try stand-up. I did it to blow off steam at night when I was student-teaching during the day at the Bronx High School of Science.

CG: Did you always know you wanted to be a comedian and a radio host?

I didn’t, actually. I always knew I liked making people laugh. I always knew I liked talking about sex. I always knew I wanted to be a writer. I guess stand-up and radio are an extension of that. I get to write and perform my own material. Radio is great because it adds the spontaneous quality of improvisation with callers from all over the United States and Canada (well, except for Hawaii. Sorry, Hawaii!) And stand-up comedy is great because I get to travel to do it.

CG: How did you get into radio, specifically with Cosmo?

Back in 2007, I was working for at a reference book publishing company in the South Bronx. I liked the people with whom I worked, but the job itself wasn’t particularly interesting or challenging. It wasn’t the worst job I’ve had, but it wasn’t the best, and the commute sucked. I knew I wanted to do something else, so I would apply to literally 30 different gigs each day–temporary, permanent, you name it. I used Idealist.org and Craigslist.org a LOT.

One day, I answered a Craigslist ad for a show on a different channel at Sirius, before the company merged with XM. I went in to audition for an unpaid guest spot. It’s funny to think about now, because the girl who was the intern at that channel, Jessica Agi, is now a pal of mine. And the producer for that show, Lea Palmieri, is now the producer on “Cocktails with Patrick” on Cosmo! And I eventually became friends with the host I met that afternoon, John DeVore, and buds with his co-host, Diana Falzone, as well. And Diana hosts “Cosmolicious” on Cosmo Radio now! So anyway, that was a fateful day for me, even though I didn’t know it at the time. They thought I was funny and they liked me, so they started having me in as a guest. And then I started doing other channels as a guest for about a year, and when a spot opened up on Cosmo Radio, I did a few demos and some interviews and eventually got hired.

CG: What tips would you give someone trying to break into the radio industry?

Craigslist is your friend. Okay, so here’s a more in-depth response: if you can’t study it in school (I didn’t, but I still ended up in this industry), contact your local stations and ask if they need help doing anything at all. You might screen calls, or just file stuff, or assist in some other way. Whatever they’ve got for you to do, do it. And if they’re not paying and you have time to intern or volunteer, do it. If you’re passionate about it, it’s important to learn all that you can. Showing up, even if it’s not paid time, will help you to learn the craft and to network. At the least, maybe you’ll get a nice job recommendation for the future.

CG: What’s it like having to get into all the “steamy” “Get in Bed” topics with thousands of listeners?

Oh, it’s hilarious. I love it. I’ve always been very talkative, so at least now I’m monetizing it through radio and comedy! I’ve been lucky to have dated individuals who are either very understanding about what I do or who just don’t listen. It’s really probably better if the people I date don’t listen, actually.

Our listeners are rad. Guests always comment on how articulate and intelligent the callers are, even when we’re discussing a light and silly topic. They’re great and they have the wildest sex stories sometimes. I am contintually amazed by how many swingers there are in the Midwest, for example.

CG: What do you think is the best way to keep the “spark” in a relationship?

Listen to “Get in Bed!” Um, also, I highly highly recommend not being 100% available to each other at all times. I’ve made the mistake of getting so caught up in the comforting sensation of being in a relationship that I’ve neglected my other interests and friendships. Don’t do that! And if you’re doing it, find yourself a fun new activity that you can do once or twice a week. Also, sex toys are awesome. And don’t rule out the possibility of bringing sexy DVDs into the relationship.

Once I’ve had a relationship last longer than 2.5 years, I may check in with some new tips! But that’s all I’ve figured out on my own for now.

CG: What inspired you to get your M.A in Secondary Teaching?

Well, I knew I wanted to be a writer, and I hadn’t gotten into any MFA programs for writing. You generally need an MFA to become a college creative writing professor, which is what I thought I wanted to do. Honestly, I probably would have hated going into academia, although it’s certainly not something I rule out for the future. I’d love to teach a college course or seminar one day, especially if they give me housing and it’s a pretty campus and there are hot straight boys in my class who want to touch my butt in a more-than-friends way. Mmmmm. College boys.

Oh, where was I? Anyway, so I didn’t get into any MFA programs, and I had a year with AmeriCorps under my belt, and I didn’t want to sit in an office all day, so I figured I’d give teaching a try. After a year in AmeriCorps and a year in grad school, I knew for certain I didn’t want to teach. So I got jobs where I sat in offices all day, and I did comedy at night.

CG: How many years did you teach? Grade level? Where?  Did you enjoy it?

I taught grades 9 and 10 for a year in New Mexico, and I student-taught 6th grade and 9th and 10th grade in New York. The year in New Mexico was very stressful for a variety of reasons, and it gave me enormous respect for teachers. It also gave me disdain for programs that just naively throw young adults into teaching situations. I see the theoretical advantage to programs like AmeriCorps, Teach for America and New York Teaching Fellows, but by and large these programs are extraordinarily stressful to the untrained individuals who enter them. They have incredibly high rates of attrition because they don’t offer their teachers adequate preparation prior to entering the classroom. They also don’t offer their teachers adequate support while they are in the classroom.

That said, I loved my students in New Mexico and have become friends with a few of them as they’ve grown into young adulthood. They were cool, weird, artsy kids and they were enormously fascinating and promising and talented and vibrant. And I do support the AmeriCorps program as a whole, which offers wonderful opportunities in countless fields–not just in teaching.

I have nothing but praise for the program at Teachers College at Columbia University. They combine real-world experience with theoretical learning and they offer a great deal of support for student teachers. I’m still friends with my advisor. She’s awesome.

CG: What inspires you to get up out of bed everyday?

I spent many years struggling with panic disorder and, eventually, agoraphobia. (It’s the subject of my one-woman comedy show, AGORAFABULOUS! This year, I workshopped it in NC, SC, TX, and NY. I’m bringing it to Chicago, Boston, and Los Angeles over the next two months, and details are at http://www.sarabenincasa.com/shows.) So I get out of bed each day because it’s a little victory each time. I’ve been pretty close to the edge of sanity in the past, and being able to lead a full and active life as a healthy adult is pretty exciting. I don’t succeed at life every day, but I keep breathing.

CG: Do you have any special quotes you live by? (For example, I keep a post it note on my computer that says “Trust the universe I am where I am for a reason.”)
“Keep fightin’ for freedom and justice, beloveds, but don’t forget to have fun doin’ it. Lord, let your laughter ring forth.” — the late, great Texas-based political writer Molly Ivins

Thank you again for taking the time to answer my questions!

You can hear Sara everynight on Cosmo Radio on Sirius 111 or XM 162 from 8-11pm EST or if you’re in the area and want to see Sara live you can check her out at the below venues!

Tags: celebrities, makeup, radio, teacher