Death, Loss and Laughter with Alyssa Limperis
In this episode of The Conversation, Amanda sits down with comedian Alyssa Limperis to delve into the complex emotions surrounding loss and grief. Both Amanda and Alyssa share the common experience of losing their fathers to cancer, and they explore how they have coped with this unimaginable loss and the impact it had on their lives. Alyssa discusses her comedy show, “No Bad Days” where she bravely incorporates humor into her reflections on losing her father. They explore the role of comedy in processing grief and the balance between laughter and sorrow. Amanda shares insights into her upcoming project centered around death and dying, exploring different perspectives and approaches to navigating these complex topics. Their candid reflections and shared experiences offer hope and understanding to those grappling with loss.
IN THIS EPISODE:
- [1:00] Amanda and Alyssa discuss their shared grief of losing their dads
- [2:30] Alyssa shares how her special, “No Bad Days,” was conceived and how she navigated her father’s death and illness
- [7:35] Alyssa’s show was born from watching her dad die with strength and a discussion on how the subject of death is taboo
- [8:05] Hospice was there for both Amanda and Alyssa, and discussion of a death doula
- [16:34] Alyssa admitted she couldn’t stop herself from talking about her dad and how she brought the conversation into her comedy shows
- [23:22] Amanda discusses a project she is working on about death and dying, and Alyssa talks about the stories she is compelled to tell
- [25:20] “No Bad Days” is streaming on Peacock
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- There aren’t words to describe what it is like when you lose your father in death. It doesn’t matter if it’s unexpected or an illness. You can’t put your emotions into words.
- Humans do a disservice to themselves and their families when they don’t talk about death and take the steps to prepare for death. Everyone will die; we need to talk about it.
- Hospice is a wonderful organization that can help you navigate the death of a family member.
RESOURCES:
“No Bad Days” - Streaming on Peacock
BIOGRAPHY:
Alyssa is an actress and comedian based in LA. Limperis starred as Sydney in the Showtime hit show FLATBUSH MISDEMEANORS. Her one-hour comedy special about losing her dad, No Bad Days, can be found on Peacock. She starred in the independent horror/comedy feature film TOO LATE opposite Fred Armisen. Her other recent credits include the short film THE LAUNCH by KK Apple, which just played at SIFF and Palm Springs Short Film Fest. The short she produced and starred in called OUTSIDE was featured on Short of The Week. She has also starred in CLOSING TIME by Russell Goldman, BRANDI FINDS GOD by Gonzalo Cordova, HOW TO AVOID A SAPPY GOODBYE by Doug Rogers, and she is in the feature film THE LIST, co-starring Halston Sage.
Additionally, she stars as ‘Mary Peck’ in the scripted podcast Edith that, was nominated for best fiction podcast by iHeartRadio, 'Denise' on HBO MAX's THE HAMLET FACTORY and voices multiple characters on both the Spotify podcast THE LAST DEGREE OF KEVIN BACON and Cartoon Network's WE BABY BEARS. She has also been featured on CONAN, LAST WEEK TONIGHT, A LITTLE LATE WITH LILLY SINGH and AUNTY DONNA’S HOUSE (Netflix).
She has starred in countless national commercials alongside Brie Larson, Megan Thee Stallion, Milana Vayntrub and, to the delight of her Massachusetts family, Tom Brady. She has been trained comedically at the UCB and theatrically at Stella Adler.
The viral success of her comedic “Mom” videos led to recognition from Today.com, Vulture, Decider, Forbes, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe and other top-tier media outlets.
About this podcast:
The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet is a groundbreaking series of weekly interviews featuring candid conversations with impactful thought leaders. Host, Amanda de Cadenet provides a platform for raw and honest discussions on a wide variety of topics from porn to politics. Visit amandadecadenet.com to learn more and sign up for her newsletter. Follow Amanda on Instagram @amandadecadenet. Follow Amanda on Substack at amandadecadenet.substack.com