Featured Writer of the Month – October 2012

Nancy Berk

Who is Nancy Berk? Where were did you grow up? Your family? Your background before humor?

Yikes, that’s a loaded question! I grew up in Connecticut, but now live in Pittsburgh with my husband Ron. We have two practically grown sons – both in film and television, so we spend most of our time hoping there won’t be a documentary coming out about us. Before I took the leap into humor, I was a psychotherapist, a stay-at-home mom, and a professor. In that order. But when I did stand-up at my high school reunion, half of my classmates reminded me that I used to be the story-telling impersonator in school.

What inspired you to get into writing and humor?

It’s hard to say what the inspiration was, because I’ve been writing since first grade. In second grade, my teacher told me I was writing too much and wasting paper. I didn’t listen. However, my husband really encouraged me to take my humor writing to the next level. And being supported by amazing editors and accomplished writers along the way has done a lot to keep me moving forward.

You were once a full time professor.  Did this experience pave the way to you performing stand-up?

It definitely gave me confidence to “perform” in crowds and it helped me analyze what  kinds of humor work. You have to be funny and creative to keep a lecture hall of students paying attention for hours on end.

How do you think your psychology background helps you in writing humor?

Psychologists are behavior experts. As a clinical psychologist, I feel like I know the nuances of behavior in a very intimate way. That means also being able to recognize people’s pain. I think that’s why I usually make fun of myself first. Mean humor doesn’t work for me- it has the potential to make people feel badly about themselves and that’s not my goal.

College Bound and Gagged?  How did you come up with the title of your book and tell us why this stage of parenting became so important to you?

During my older son’s college admission search I found myself panicked and clueless. And I wasn’t alone. There was no fun “go to” guide to hold parents hands and walk them through the basics. Parents need humor and strategy during a time when they feel like pulling their hair out. That’s when I decided to write College Bound and Gagged. The title was just a play on words about college-bound families where parents are supposed to be quiet and let their kids drive the process. And yet, we’re also pulling them along trying to make sure they’re going in the right direction.

We know you do so much more than college talk, so what else do you want us to know about you and your career?

I love blending psychology and humor to illustrate and motivate. My weekly iTunes’ podcast Whine At 9 features celebrity guests and showcases humor, insight, and success. Having the opportunity to chat with accomplished authors, artists, musicians, comics, actors and experts has been enlightening for me and gratifying to be able to share their stories and new projects with our audience. Watching Whine At 9 gain national exposure is truly exciting and working with industry icons and trailblazers is one of the highlights of my week.

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