Meet Lynn Harris

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lynn Harris a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Lynn, thank you so much for joining us and offering your lessons and wisdom for our readers. One of the things we most admire about you is your generosity and so we’d love if you could talk to us about where you think your generosity comes from.

People assume that only children are spoiled. But I’m pretty sure that my only-childhood is the, or at least a, source of my generosity.

With no siblings to battle over toys, clothes, or space in the back seat, I never had to guard my stuff. No one was stealing my sweater or “borrowing” my diary. I didn’t grow up clutching things close. I grew up assuming there was enough to go around — and so I shared. Sometimes too freely. I’ve lent out many a beloved, sentimental book only to realize I forgot who I gave it to — or maybe they forgot they had it — and either way, the book and the person are now gone. (You know who you are. Or maybe you don’t.)

I also had good role models. My parents were also extremely generous—with time, attention, brisket. My mom gave her ear and heart freely and became a rock for so many people in her life. My dad, a fancy MIT linguist (yes, a heartbeat from Chomsky), was known for his extraordinary generosity as a teacher — not just with time in and outside the classroom, but also with investment in building students’ opportunities and careers.

So it feels natural now to be generous with what I have — for example, my professional network. I’ll connect you with someone in my circle pretty much without hesitation (though I always ask them first), because that kind of generosity helped me when I was a job-hunting, purpose-searching twenty-something, and honestly, that’s just how it should be.

Sure, being an only child meant some lonely moments. At one point I was so starved for chaos that my most vivid daydreams were about the cast of ZOOM coming over to play. It was often verrrry quiet in our house, just me, my parents, and the basso profundo of Robert J. Lurtsema on WGBH. But in all that stillness, kindness echoed. And that’s what stayed.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m the founder and CEO of GOLD Comedy, the comedy school, professional network, and content studio where women and nonbinary creators grow their comedy careers and creative side hustles, join a powerful community, and make funny stuff that gets seen on all types of stage and screen. We offer classes, shows, digital sketch teams, a celebrity/pro speaker series, and more — mostly online — all designed to help creators level up, get noticed, and nail their showbiz goals. Rachel Dratch is an advisor. BRAGGING.

I love comedy about as much as I hate injustice and patriarchy — so lucky me, I figured out how to use one to go after the other. I come to GOLD as a longtime standup, producer, award-winning journalist, and culture change strategist. My work has helped change laws and minds from Congress to NASCAR. That same mix of humor, impact, and cultural strategy drives GOLD. Comedy isn’t just medicine or a distraction from whatever fresh hell — though it’s excellent at both — it’s a cultural force that shifts perception and power. So who makes comedy matters.

That’s why I believe so deeply in GOLD and our members. Right now, we’re growing our membership, supercharging our digital sketch teams, and developing a webseries incubator. Come hang out!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. Don’t be a job snob. EVERY SKILL IS TRANSFERABLE. I have bussed tables, led tours, written sewing newsletters and horoscopes (I know nothing* about either), and stapled so, so, so many things. EVERYTHING counts toward something.

2. Make yourself indispensable. Be the person people think of first when someone asks, “Do you know anyone who…?” That comes from showing up, delivering, and being generous with your time and talent.

3. Be kind. Full stop. It matters more than you think — not just for your reputation, but for your longevity, your collaborators, and your own sense of purpose.

For anyone early in their journey: stay open, stay useful, and stay human. It pays off.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

1. Make a to-do list that is ACTUALLY DOABLE, just for today. Don’t even look at the rest of it.
2. Pause and walk around my scrappy but sumptuous roof garden and see what’s doing. There’s ALWAYS something new sprouting or some (literal) grass I can touch.
3. Cook something I can do in one pan or pot. You get the focus and fun of strategizing and layering of the flavors, but only one thing to wash. To-do list: Still doable!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Denise Winters, Jorg Meyers, as marked

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Productivity
Tactics & Strategies for Keeping Your Creativity Strong

With the rapid improvements in AI, it’s more important than ever to keep your creativity

Productivity
From Burnout to Balance: The Role of Self-Care

Burning out is one of the primary risks you face as you work towards your