Tbh i am somewhat of a classical music nerd and i couldnt immediately place his name. But just from the sound of the name i assumed it had to be some crazy good classical musician 😅
@@claraboe2755 he’s Chinese American and he’s performed around the world, but I think he was more of a phenomenon during the 80s-90s from what I’ve heard
I actually really relate to what Ashley says about doing comedy as a high school teacher! There's a psychology to a class. When you have a group of students who are determined to not have fun at school because that wouldn't fit into the very narrow definition of cool they've decided they care about? There's almost nothing I can do to save that. When you've got a group of earnest students who are curious, motivated, and eager to have fun in class? It's magic. Students in those classes will tell me how funny I am and how fun my class is, and I always tell them that they had just as much if not more to do with it than me. Alternatively, when I'm bombing with a class, yes, I can tell that those kids think I'm boring as hell and can't understand why I would be anyone's favorite teacher! Crowd mentality is wild, and people don't generally register how much it affects the way they experience things.
I was having a convo with someone who had never heard of hellen keller and it just made me wonder, what all things everyone else has heard about that i havent 😂
To Ashley's point about a set working or bombing; saw one set in Montreal and thought it was the worst of the night, went to a mystery comedy show ninety minutes later, she comes out again and kills it with mostly the same material. It's always stuck with me, watching them so close together but so differently received, it's incredible.
dang, i could listen to an entire like 90min podcast of alayna and mak talking about their experiences with religion, with ashley as the innocent bystander
Ive been an Alayna viewer since 700 years ago. And i swear shes never touched on growing up at that level of religion. It was really cool to see her and Mak talk about their experiences. It’s so relatable.
As a former church kid who went on to be a college aged camp counselor, I was so disenfranchised with camp when I was let into the leadership meetings and they discussed the "funnel" structure of camp, where the goal was to tire out students with activities games that are active and outside their comfort zone, and then bring them into "fun" start of night services with silly games and upbeat worship music, then settle into a pointed message that is designed to make them feel "convicted by the holy spirit" (i.e. guilty for being a normal human), followed by low and slow worship music again designed to manipulate emotions and encourage kids to "make a commitment" to God to put down everything that makes them human to be better christians. Its wild.
Ashley!!! I have never been a laugh out loud person, like I didn't even really know what my laugh sounded like and I honestly wasn't really sure if I could even laugh out loud and not have it feel super fake and forced and weird. But I went to one of your shows a few months ago and you like unlocked my laugh??? and I've been laughing out loud all the time since then and it's great and I just wanted to say thank you for changing my life and my laugh forever
Came to say I was shook both Alayna and Mak didn’t know Yo-yo Ma and I’m so glad the whole comments are doing the same. You’re not crazy Ashley!! They absolutely should know him!
genuinely can’t imagine how uncomfortable it must be to know a crowd is just dead silent sitting there looking at you. and then there are people committed to misunderstanding you in a variety of ways. such a difficult job when there are so many factors outside of your control. ashley i applaud you and hope to see you live one day ❤
Ashley talking about really understanding audiences makes me feel all the more honored to have been featured in one of her clips. While I wasn’t the person in the audience interacting directly with Ashley, I was the person the camera kept showing reacting to the whole situation. I knew I was laughing the whole time, but it was so fun to watch when I had no idea I was even on camera. As someone who has been a life-long comedy fan , I was a bit worried to attend the show alone based on Ashley’s comments on her audiences not always “getting” live comedy. I was so pleasantly surprised that everyone was amazing. I know it was six months ago, but the Boston show was wonderful!
The talk of praying at Jesus camp is relatable. I'm a guy who grew up in the LDS church, and while I felt that way about Jesus camp, I especially felt that way the one and only time I gave a priesthood blessing to someone. They always say that you don't need to know what to say because God will speak through you and tell you what to say, but that's BS. In college, when a friend who was sick asked me to give her a blessing, I had to just make something up on the fly. I just said words that I thought would comfort her. God didn't tell me what to say. Every word of that "blessing" was my own. That's not to say there isn't value in ritualistic words of comfort like that, but it's not coming from God, it's coming from the person saying the words.
I relate to the Jesus Camp stories so hard. You totally don't realise how culty and ridiculous they are in the moment. I remember everybody getting prayed for and falling down and shaking on the floor, I felt so much doubt and shame when it didn't happen to me. Praise Gay that I now know if a strange man is yelling gibberish at me and trying to push me over, I should probably run.
The church camp talk was also what I experienced. Now I realize that live music and theater bring the same depth of emotion without the fear and guilt that came with the church part of it.
The amount of joy I get from knowing who Yo-Yo Ma is (solely from him being animated into an episode of Arthur on PBS Kids when i was a kid 😂) & finally understanding a reference is just incredible!
Alayna talking about her feeling when God didn't "speak" to her is sooooo fucking relatable. For me it wasn't so much that I worried I was a bad Christian, but that my family would find out I was. I faked it for a long time and I think I assumed others were as well.
I like how Ashley was doing her typical interrupty bits until she realize Alayna was talking about real trauma around choir singing and then she so quickly changed her demeanor that she dropped the mic down to her lap and buckled in
my time to shine this episode. i went to church three times a week and church camp from 2nd grade to my senior year. I can't express how much i appreciate the topic
At the stay away Jesus camp I was at the students would actually call the night before we head home “cry night” because it would be the night with the sad convicting message. They had also hired a photographer on camp taking pictures that everyone including parents would see and post about. The pastor, worship leader, and camp leaders were all related if not very close friends. So many students were impacted because if an issue arose or patterns of behavior were called out, they chose protecting the family’s reputation over doing right and safe things. I was a high school student worship leader at the time and looking back now and seeing it for what it truly was is so disturbing.
These church stories and the surprise coming from Ashley’s face are so funny to me coming from a Catholic country (Spain). I think church here isn’t as traumatic because most people do it more casually than in the US. It is more ingrained in society but less intense in general I feel.
I also think Catholicism is very different from Christianity in the US. I was raised Catholic and we didn't have any of the camp stuff or God talking to us BS.
@akwellman I was also raised catholic in the southern us and I did not have any of the church camp experiences like they said, it must be a difference between protestant Christian churches and catholicism
@@georgiadean5124 American protestan churches also seem very different from at least the mainstream ones in Europe. There are some weirdo churches out here too (that seem to be influenced by the American ones) but they are very niche
Not knowing the name Yo-yo Ma is like not knowing the name Mozart or Mohammed Ali .... not that you know about classical music or boxing but just knowing the name.
I had such an opposite experience to Mak! My family so repressed our emotions that the emotional manipulation at church and church camp would make me determined NOT to cry. But the fact that I went into every service for most of my life trying not to be emotional and STILL experiencing an overwhelming urge to cry was A) very damaging I’m not okay but B) made it soooo very obvious that the whole environment was just manipulating our emotions. Left the church a year ago. Working on recovery. Unbelievably angry that my faith and brain are so messed up.
MAK ALAYNA how do you not know Yo-Yo Ma? Ashley, in comedy shows I go in to them to enjoy myself, I will laugh out loud even if no one else is I don’t care what anyone thinks, it’s definitely frustrating when people don’t understand that you are supposed to laugh and clap, I’m there for the adrenaline rush and to have a great night! Also, comedians are gonna mess up it’s not a big deal, comedy is art and art can be messy. That’s part of why I love it, it helps me see that we’re all just humans trying to understand our world and we’re all on our own journeys (drink). Comedy helps me heal!! Keep up the amazing, sometimes messy, work, it helps more people than you know!!
Fun little Yo-Yo Ma story... In high school I attended a summer music program in upstate NY called Meadowmount School of Music. There, I heard stories of him getting real trashed when he attended as a young adult. He's actually known as a big drinker (alleged alcoholic) among the classical community. Another name y'all should know is Itzhak Perlman; one of the best violinists ever.
The singing is the only thing that I miss about church, and it’s what kept me going for so long. Music during alter calls is absolutely emotional manipulation. I’ve decided that I can listen to and sing along with gospel music the way I sing along to musicals lol.
It’s so crazy how you can do a set and it goes so well, the crowd is just eating you up, and then you do the SAME EXACT set the next day and just absolutely fall flat on your face! Comedy is basically just a gambling addiction
I had a similar youth group/church type story when I was younger. Everyone was lining up to be healed of their ailments and they also told you to pray while you were in line. I had a bad headache I couldn't get rid of. Everyone was saying how they were healed and I was like, ummm I still have a headache. I also felt like I didn't know if I would go to heaven/hell, because people sounded so sure that they would go to heaven, and I wondered how they could be so sure. My cousins (pastor's kids) looked at me like I was going to hell for not knowing. They're cool now though, lol.
Also regarding the bombing topic - I feel like the better comparison would be rap or dubstep music. With classical music, even if we don't like it, we've beeen "socially conditioned" to associate it with high art and sublime taste, therefore we know it's good even if personally we cannot appreciate it. But if someone doesn't like dubstep, even if you show them the best of the best, they'll probably still think it's trash. And humour is just as much if not more subjective then music taste, so I'd imagine that's what is like with comedy.
Yo-Yo Ma is extremely famous. They 100% should absolutely know who he is. I'm still not fully convinced that they weren't gaslighting you Ashley. Rediculous. I rarely comment and I came to tell you you're right. You and your pretty pink shirt are vindicated.
As a queer former choir boy who grew up going to church, Alayna and Mak’s convo was super interesting to me. My church was fairly chill, and was actually the reason that between ages 3 to 22, I never went for longer than a summer without being in some form of choir because the youngest church choir started at 3. I fell in love with choral singing super early, an basically the whole reason I minored in music was so I had a good excuse to keep doing choir.
As a Canadian, I'm shocked that I knew the Yo-Yo Ma reference but Alayna somehow didn't??? Baffled lmao Edited to add : I grew up religious too and hateddddd those wafers for communion 🥲 it was like weird textured paper and couldn't stand the taste 😂
Hey Chosen Family, just thought I’d input another religious opinion. I am a young queer and Christian woman. And I have definitely suffered through the torment of religious trauma particularly over my queerness. But I believe that I still have a relationship with Jesus, and that he purposely made me who I was. And people do genuinely hear God’s voice, audibly and others. I have personally heard God’s voice audibly. And he saved me from me time and time again. I know many children have suffered in the hands of the church. But it’s not fair to knock those who have a genuine relationship with God and with others. Religion is a part of many peoples lives just as our queerness is. But I am not criticising where any of you are coming from, as I am a fan from day one, and I respect and appreciate you all as genuine content creators. Thank you for uplifting many people in your communities.
I once fainted at the end of a book report that was unfortunately on a stage because the only available classroom was an auditorium. I also love acting in front of crowds. I think the deciding factor is having to show myself and be vulnerable, so standup comedy would be hit or miss.
I am a classical musician (lewk at my ancient profile pic) and I am used to people giving me blank stares when I mention a classical musician's name; but Yo-Yo is a UN Ambassador of Peace, has had viral videos playing in National Parks, has performed on every continent as one of the primary orchestral soloists of the past 40 years, has NINETEEN Grammy Awards, and has recorded almost 100 albums. I also thought Mak and Alayna were riffing not knowing who he is... but I am an artist in a dying medium, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Also, I had to stop doing laundry and come leave this comment when Ash said she needed support, so I'm gonna go finish the lights load I'm about to start. Good luck with the old-lady-allegations Ashley.
Oof, you only know deeply rooted your religious trauma is when you _physically_ tense up at purely the title of this episode alone, even when you know that the podcast is a safe one haha 😶 I caught myself staring blankly at the thumbnail for almost a minute with my teeth grinding before I realised my idiocy and clicked it anyway 💀 as always, sending love to you fellow cousins- remember to drink water (beloved) bitches >:]
I've never been to a Jesus Camp but I was raised in an isolated, hyper religious (homeschooled K-8), basically family-cult like environment, so I've been WAITING to hear more about Mak and Alayna's religious trauma experiences through a queer female-bodied lens, AND hear Ashley keep going, "WHAT THE FUCKING FUCK?!?" because yeah, this stuff is mindfucking and some of us are in therapy and take meds 3X a day, and more of us don't have that support accessible!!!
I genuinely wonder what Alayna’s thoughts on BH controversy(not paying therapists who work under them a proper wage while simultaneously taking over the “market” for therapy aka capitalizing on the mental health field) I always feel so uncomfortable that it’s a sponsor knowing that so many in the field have spoken out against them but maybe Alayna could ease that since it’s her field.
On the point of Yo-Yo Ma: I am younger than Mak by a few years, and I do indeed know who he his. I think it's really just Mak's childhood differences because my best introduction to him was the Arthur episode about him lol
I’ve been extremely lucky to not have had the experience you guys did with the catholic church. I grew up around a Jesuit church in Portugal and although I don’t “believe in god”, this church is still home to me. I feel safe and accepted. I go there whenever I need to clear my mind. They taught me critical thinking and self reflection. They always encouraged me to come to my own conclusions about my beliefs and morals. And honestly religion has had a positive impact on embracing my queerness. I didn’t even know homophobia existed till I faced it in high school. But it’s so sad that most people don’t share this experience 😔
I actually remember while going to a catholic highschool in Belgium, we watched the documentary during religion classes. Talking about how it was upsetting and the very extreme reactions the children showed. To think others just saw it neutrally is blowing my mind a little. I thought it was a very interesting duscussion how you experienced these environments. Much love
I feel like Yo-Yo Ma is so steeped in pop culture though - don't know anything about classical music either but I've heard him referenced in fiction books and even TV series and stuff 🤔
It’s funny, I actually really love recorded stand-up specials. I enjoy the writing of it. Seeing it live you’re so much more in the moment but at home you can really think more freely about what’s going on in there. I don’t always laugh very freely, so it’s kinda nice to feel like I can quietly enjoy the comedy without feeling like a bad audience member for not laughing at something I enjoy.
I watched that show through Ashley's patreon link and I could feel the weird vibe through the video. The lack of laughing was eerie, can't wait to hear the new stuff with a better audience.
i’m a pastor’s kid and i’ve been to church camp from about when i was in 7th grade to 11th grade i believe. there were definitely some interesting experiences and stories i had from that time.
Both Ashley’s and Alayna’s friend’s reactions to basic Christian life are the exact reason why I refuse to be ‘grateful’ for having to endure the bs religion puts us through. I am grateful that I made it out on the other side. BUT we both ended up in the same place of discernment. No religious trauma necessary.
Wow Christianity is so extreme in the US :') I'm French, raised Christian with mass every week, a bit of Christian girls scout, and at no point was I expected to hear God regularly or cry during prayer :')
Once again I thank my family for not bringing me up religious. The first time I heard a chorus it was like a trascendental experience, but I just attributed that to art hehe
I grew up singing in those church choirs and loved the singing part. I stopped for about 5 years when I left for college and came out. This year I joined the San Diego Women’s chorus and it has been so cool and healing to step into an intergenerational music space that is explicitly queer. Highly recommend seeking out GALA choruses if you want to find some cool choirs!
I had a very similar experience! I grew up catholic (in Italy) and absolutely loved the singing part of Mass, still do. Then I moved for uni and left the choir, even though I've maintained a good relationship to my community and faith after growing up and coming out, but I really missed it... last year I got accepted in the university choir and although part of the repertoire is sacred music it's so different! I'm glad I could keep this passion alive, but with a totally different approach.
As an audience member for comedy I feel like part of why we think comedians are just bad when they have one bad show is because like they have their set. Singers have their set but maybe they’re sick. When comedians flop they’re just talking and have their set. No one realizes that it’s not the comedian that isn’t funny it’s the crowd that sucks. Nothings funny if you don’t allow yourself to have a sense of humor. I watch comedy at home and it’s funny but I don’t laugh. It’s about the environment. Everything’s funnier if you’re having a good time. Part of why Ashley’s so amazing is because she creates an amazing and funny environment along with being absolutely hilarious
top tip ashley (😅i’m aware of the irony yes) when u go to edinburgh don’t pronounce it burrow at the end it’s more like a bruh at the end, but like people will get it bc ur american so it’s probably fine
Ashley's fear of chanting throws me back to a scene in The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Kundera. He says the same thing. People chanting remind him of soviet dictatorships lol
I think Yo-Yo Ma is only mainstream in the USA. I'm a little familiar with classical music and modern soloists so I know of him, but I'd be surprised if any of my friends of family knows who he is.
As someone who was raised in the church, went to christian school k-12 and then fell into a conservative church group in college, oof I felt this one. But I need to know what denomination Mak and Alayna were raised in because waiting to hear an explicit message from God is insane. Also when I was little I remember wishing I was Jewish because I wanted to discuss my faith on an intellectual level and there was no one around me able or willing to do that.
I am SHOCKED that Alayna didn’t even know who Yo-Yo Ma is.
Trust me I am disappointed in myself
@@AlaynaJoyOfficial Did you check him out?
Same❤ amusement
Yo-yo Ma will be what history will remember as one of the most iconic 21st century musicians
I’m with Ashley- genuinely thought nearly everyone knows Yo Yo Ma. I mean, it’s just a given- he’s a cultural icon!!!🥰
The Yo-Yo Ma disrespect! I’m on Ashley’s side. The audacity!
RIGHT??
I was shocked
Tbh i am somewhat of a classical music nerd and i couldnt immediately place his name. But just from the sound of the name i assumed it had to be some crazy good classical musician 😅
ahhh he's american! So i guess it makes sense that he's more famous in the US than internationally (me not being from the US)
@@claraboe2755 he’s Chinese American and he’s performed around the world, but I think he was more of a phenomenon during the 80s-90s from what I’ve heard
YO-YO MA IS A LIVING LEGEND AND I'M SOMEONE WHO DONTESNT KNOW ANYTHING AT ALL
Yo-Yo Ma is quintessential. That was an easy reference!!! I'M WITH ASHLEY.
I actually really relate to what Ashley says about doing comedy as a high school teacher! There's a psychology to a class. When you have a group of students who are determined to not have fun at school because that wouldn't fit into the very narrow definition of cool they've decided they care about? There's almost nothing I can do to save that. When you've got a group of earnest students who are curious, motivated, and eager to have fun in class? It's magic. Students in those classes will tell me how funny I am and how fun my class is, and I always tell them that they had just as much if not more to do with it than me. Alternatively, when I'm bombing with a class, yes, I can tell that those kids think I'm boring as hell and can't understand why I would be anyone's favorite teacher! Crowd mentality is wild, and people don't generally register how much it affects the way they experience things.
Honestly amazing comparison
I'm with Ashley in thinking they're gaslighting. My sister didn't know who Houdini was 🤯...I still can't believe it
I was having a convo with someone who had never heard of hellen keller and it just made me wonder, what all things everyone else has heard about that i havent 😂
To Ashley's point about a set working or bombing; saw one set in Montreal and thought it was the worst of the night, went to a mystery comedy show ninety minutes later, she comes out again and kills it with mostly the same material. It's always stuck with me, watching them so close together but so differently received, it's incredible.
dang, i could listen to an entire like 90min podcast of alayna and mak talking about their experiences with religion, with ashley as the innocent bystander
I'm with Ashley on this one, you just know who Yo-Yo Ma is.
Ive been an Alayna viewer since 700 years ago. And i swear shes never touched on growing up at that level of religion. It was really cool to see her and Mak talk about their experiences. It’s so relatable.
I'm so shocked Alayna and Mak haven't heard of Yo-Yo Ma?? I'm with you Ashley that is nuts
As a former church kid who went on to be a college aged camp counselor, I was so disenfranchised with camp when I was let into the leadership meetings and they discussed the "funnel" structure of camp, where the goal was to tire out students with activities games that are active and outside their comfort zone, and then bring them into "fun" start of night services with silly games and upbeat worship music, then settle into a pointed message that is designed to make them feel "convicted by the holy spirit" (i.e. guilty for being a normal human), followed by low and slow worship music again designed to manipulate emotions and encourage kids to "make a commitment" to God to put down everything that makes them human to be better christians. Its wild.
Woowww that rly checks out from being a kid growing up at those camps. Very similar structure then too
Ashley!!! I have never been a laugh out loud person, like I didn't even really know what my laugh sounded like and I honestly wasn't really sure if I could even laugh out loud and not have it feel super fake and forced and weird. But I went to one of your shows a few months ago and you like unlocked my laugh??? and I've been laughing out loud all the time since then and it's great and I just wanted to say thank you for changing my life and my laugh forever
and btw I've heard of Yo-Yo Ma but had no idea what he actually did. but I'm also younger than any of you guys so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Aawww my god, that's so sweetttt❤
I hope she sees this ☺️
I hope she sees this ❤
This brings me an insane amount of joy
Awwww that is so cool!! This happened to me but with crying, when I saw The Lion King musical for the first time 🤣😭
Ashley you’re so valid, I also was shook they didn’t know who YoYo-Ma was 😭🫶
Yo Yo Ma has been releasing tracks since the 80s. As a classical musician myself, I endorse Ashley.
sleep ❌
new chosen family episode ✅
Came to say I was shook both Alayna and Mak didn’t know Yo-yo Ma and I’m so glad the whole comments are doing the same. You’re not crazy Ashley!! They absolutely should know him!
genuinely can’t imagine how uncomfortable it must be to know a crowd is just dead silent sitting there looking at you. and then there are people committed to misunderstanding you in a variety of ways. such a difficult job when there are so many factors outside of your control. ashley i applaud you and hope to see you live one day ❤
Ashley talking about really understanding audiences makes me feel all the more honored to have been featured in one of her clips. While I wasn’t the person in the audience interacting directly with Ashley, I was the person the camera kept showing reacting to the whole situation. I knew I was laughing the whole time, but it was so fun to watch when I had no idea I was even on camera. As someone who has been a life-long comedy fan , I was a bit worried to attend the show alone based on Ashley’s comments on her audiences not always “getting” live comedy. I was so pleasantly surprised that everyone was amazing. I know it was six months ago, but the Boston show was wonderful!
The talk of praying at Jesus camp is relatable. I'm a guy who grew up in the LDS church, and while I felt that way about Jesus camp, I especially felt that way the one and only time I gave a priesthood blessing to someone.
They always say that you don't need to know what to say because God will speak through you and tell you what to say, but that's BS. In college, when a friend who was sick asked me to give her a blessing, I had to just make something up on the fly. I just said words that I thought would comfort her. God didn't tell me what to say. Every word of that "blessing" was my own. That's not to say there isn't value in ritualistic words of comfort like that, but it's not coming from God, it's coming from the person saying the words.
I relate to the Jesus Camp stories so hard. You totally don't realise how culty and ridiculous they are in the moment. I remember everybody getting prayed for and falling down and shaking on the floor, I felt so much doubt and shame when it didn't happen to me. Praise Gay that I now know if a strange man is yelling gibberish at me and trying to push me over, I should probably run.
im going thru my first lesbian breakup rn and this podcast is healing my gay lil heart 😭💗
🫶🫶🫶
you and me both 💞💞
The church camp talk was also what I experienced. Now I realize that live music and theater bring the same depth of emotion without the fear and guilt that came with the church part of it.
The amount of joy I get from knowing who Yo-Yo Ma is (solely from him being animated into an episode of Arthur on PBS Kids when i was a kid 😂) & finally understanding a reference is just incredible!
Im with Ashley! Im honestly shocked they BOTH didnt know Yo Yo Ma
i love that this is always released right an hour before i have therapy lol it actually helps w my anxiety hahahah
Alayna talking about her feeling when God didn't "speak" to her is sooooo fucking relatable. For me it wasn't so much that I worried I was a bad Christian, but that my family would find out I was. I faked it for a long time and I think I assumed others were as well.
I literally learned about Yo-Yo Ma in grade school. He was a section in one of those giant textbooks they give you
I like how Ashley was doing her typical interrupty bits until she realize Alayna was talking about real trauma around choir singing and then she so quickly changed her demeanor that she dropped the mic down to her lap and buckled in
I’m with Ashley! Respect to Yo-Yo Ma! He’s an incredible cellist!
Yo Yo Ma is phenomenal!!
We need a shirt that says "this is so disrespectful to yoyo ma" and another one that says "i don't know who yoyo ma is"
I need the first one. Because as someone who doesn't know who he is, I am so disrespectful to Yo Yo Ma
my time to shine this episode. i went to church three times a week and church camp from 2nd grade to my senior year. I can't express how much i appreciate the topic
At the stay away Jesus camp I was at the students would actually call the night before we head home “cry night” because it would be the night with the sad convicting message. They had also hired a photographer on camp taking pictures that everyone including parents would see and post about. The pastor, worship leader, and camp leaders were all related if not very close friends. So many students were impacted because if an issue arose or patterns of behavior were called out, they chose protecting the family’s reputation over doing right and safe things. I was a high school student worship leader at the time and looking back now and seeing it for what it truly was is so disturbing.
I LOVE Yo-Yo Ma! I’m 23 and I know who he is. They better know who he is now 😤
These church stories and the surprise coming from Ashley’s face are so funny to me coming from a Catholic country (Spain). I think church here isn’t as traumatic because most people do it more casually than in the US. It is more ingrained in society but less intense in general I feel.
That’s a good point
I also think Catholicism is very different from Christianity in the US. I was raised Catholic and we didn't have any of the camp stuff or God talking to us BS.
@akwellman I was also raised catholic in the southern us and I did not have any of the church camp experiences like they said, it must be a difference between protestant Christian churches and catholicism
@@georgiadean5124 American protestan churches also seem very different from at least the mainstream ones in Europe. There are some weirdo churches out here too (that seem to be influenced by the American ones) but they are very niche
Truly thought that you were gaslighting Ashley over Yo Yo Ma 😂 He is captain Holt favorite celebrity after all!
Not knowing the name Yo-yo Ma is like not knowing the name Mozart or Mohammed Ali .... not that you know about classical music or boxing but just knowing the name.
I had such an opposite experience to Mak! My family so repressed our emotions that the emotional manipulation at church and church camp would make me determined NOT to cry. But the fact that I went into every service for most of my life trying not to be emotional and STILL experiencing an overwhelming urge to cry was A) very damaging I’m not okay but B) made it soooo very obvious that the whole environment was just manipulating our emotions. Left the church a year ago. Working on recovery. Unbelievably angry that my faith and brain are so messed up.
MAK ALAYNA how do you not know Yo-Yo Ma? Ashley, in comedy shows I go in to them to enjoy myself, I will laugh out loud even if no one else is I don’t care what anyone thinks, it’s definitely frustrating when people don’t understand that you are supposed to laugh and clap, I’m there for the adrenaline rush and to have a great night! Also, comedians are gonna mess up it’s not a big deal, comedy is art and art can be messy. That’s part of why I love it, it helps me see that we’re all just humans trying to understand our world and we’re all on our own journeys (drink). Comedy helps me heal!! Keep up the amazing, sometimes messy, work, it helps more people than you know!!
Fun little Yo-Yo Ma story... In high school I attended a summer music program in upstate NY called Meadowmount School of Music. There, I heard stories of him getting real trashed when he attended as a young adult. He's actually known as a big drinker (alleged alcoholic) among the classical community. Another name y'all should know is Itzhak Perlman; one of the best violinists ever.
The singing is the only thing that I miss about church, and it’s what kept me going for so long.
Music during alter calls is absolutely emotional manipulation.
I’ve decided that I can listen to and sing along with gospel music the way I sing along to musicals lol.
It’s so crazy how you can do a set and it goes so well, the crowd is just eating you up, and then you do the SAME EXACT set the next day and just absolutely fall flat on your face! Comedy is basically just a gambling addiction
As a cellist, it made me so happy to hear you talk about Yo-Yo Ma ♥
I had a similar youth group/church type story when I was younger. Everyone was lining up to be healed of their ailments and they also told you to pray while you were in line. I had a bad headache I couldn't get rid of. Everyone was saying how they were healed and I was like, ummm I still have a headache. I also felt like I didn't know if I would go to heaven/hell, because people sounded so sure that they would go to heaven, and I wondered how they could be so sure. My cousins (pastor's kids) looked at me like I was going to hell for not knowing. They're cool now though, lol.
Also regarding the bombing topic - I feel like the better comparison would be rap or dubstep music. With classical music, even if we don't like it, we've beeen "socially conditioned" to associate it with high art and sublime taste, therefore we know it's good even if personally we cannot appreciate it. But if someone doesn't like dubstep, even if you show them the best of the best, they'll probably still think it's trash. And humour is just as much if not more subjective then music taste, so I'd imagine that's what is like with comedy.
Ashley I also thought the Yo-Yo Ma thing was a prank! I was shooketh.
I know exactly who Yoyo Ma is
i am very glad the comments agree that yo-yo ma is iconic 😌chosen family audience has pulled through (shame, Mak and Alayna. shame.)
Mak and Alayna not knowing who Yo-Yo Ma was, was actually pissing me off the way it was pissing Ashley off. This is common knowledge, guys.
Yo Yo Ma was on ARTHUR! That’s peak fame. Maximum fame.
Thats the only reason I know who Yo Yo Ma is 😅 Arthur has been my comfort show from childhood on!
it's not generational. I'm 23 and I know Yoyo Ma
I loved how Alayna kept saying "Yo Yo Mar"😂🩷 You all are so freakin funny💞💞💞
Yo-Yo Ma is extremely famous. They 100% should absolutely know who he is. I'm still not fully convinced that they weren't gaslighting you Ashley. Rediculous.
I rarely comment and I came to tell you you're right. You and your pretty pink shirt are vindicated.
As a queer former choir boy who grew up going to church, Alayna and Mak’s convo was super interesting to me. My church was fairly chill, and was actually the reason that between ages 3 to 22, I never went for longer than a summer without being in some form of choir because the youngest church choir started at 3. I fell in love with choral singing super early, an basically the whole reason I minored in music was so I had a good excuse to keep doing choir.
As a Canadian, I'm shocked that I knew the Yo-Yo Ma reference but Alayna somehow didn't??? Baffled lmao
Edited to add : I grew up religious too and hateddddd those wafers for communion 🥲 it was like weird textured paper and couldn't stand the taste 😂
Hey Chosen Family, just thought I’d input another religious opinion. I am a young queer and Christian woman. And I have definitely suffered through the torment of religious trauma particularly over my queerness. But I believe that I still have a relationship with Jesus, and that he purposely made me who I was. And people do genuinely hear God’s voice, audibly and others. I have personally heard God’s voice audibly. And he saved me from me time and time again. I know many children have suffered in the hands of the church. But it’s not fair to knock those who have a genuine relationship with God and with others. Religion is a part of many peoples lives just as our queerness is. But I am not criticising where any of you are coming from, as I am a fan from day one, and I respect and appreciate you all as genuine content creators. Thank you for uplifting many people in your communities.
The pure joy on Ashley's face when Mak is talking about her traumatic public speaking story...😂😂😂😂
I did actually have Mak's nightmare come true singing choir in hs at a senior home 😂, which was truly crazy having a bass solo but the show goes on
I once fainted at the end of a book report that was unfortunately on a stage because the only available classroom was an auditorium. I also love acting in front of crowds. I think the deciding factor is having to show myself and be vulnerable, so standup comedy would be hit or miss.
I am a classical musician (lewk at my ancient profile pic) and I am used to people giving me blank stares when I mention a classical musician's name; but Yo-Yo is a UN Ambassador of Peace, has had viral videos playing in National Parks, has performed on every continent as one of the primary orchestral soloists of the past 40 years, has NINETEEN Grammy Awards, and has recorded almost 100 albums. I also thought Mak and Alayna were riffing not knowing who he is... but I am an artist in a dying medium, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Also, I had to stop doing laundry and come leave this comment when Ash said she needed support, so I'm gonna go finish the lights load I'm about to start. Good luck with the old-lady-allegations Ashley.
Oof, you only know deeply rooted your religious trauma is when you _physically_ tense up at purely the title of this episode alone, even when you know that the podcast is a safe one haha 😶
I caught myself staring blankly at the thumbnail for almost a minute with my teeth grinding before I realised my idiocy and clicked it anyway 💀
as always, sending love to you fellow cousins- remember to drink water (beloved) bitches >:]
I feel like you should at least know the name Yo-Yo Ma if anything. lol
Fully with Ashley on the Yo Yo Ma thing
I've never been to a Jesus Camp but I was raised in an isolated, hyper religious (homeschooled K-8), basically family-cult like environment, so I've been WAITING to hear more about Mak and Alayna's religious trauma experiences through a queer female-bodied lens, AND hear Ashley keep going, "WHAT THE FUCKING FUCK?!?" because yeah, this stuff is mindfucking and some of us are in therapy and take meds 3X a day, and more of us don't have that support accessible!!!
Is it 2am? Possibly. Am I watching this episode right now? Of course.
Same
3am for me help 😭
Been Up up all night. Please help
I genuinely wonder what Alayna’s thoughts on BH controversy(not paying therapists who work under them a proper wage while simultaneously taking over the “market” for therapy aka capitalizing on the mental health field) I always feel so uncomfortable that it’s a sponsor knowing that so many in the field have spoken out against them but maybe Alayna could ease that since it’s her field.
On the point of Yo-Yo Ma: I am younger than Mak by a few years, and I do indeed know who he his. I think it's really just Mak's childhood differences because my best introduction to him was the Arthur episode about him lol
I’ve been extremely lucky to not have had the experience you guys did with the catholic church. I grew up around a Jesuit church in Portugal and although I don’t “believe in god”, this church is still home to me. I feel safe and accepted. I go there whenever I need to clear my mind. They taught me critical thinking and self reflection. They always encouraged me to come to my own conclusions about my beliefs and morals. And honestly religion has had a positive impact on embracing my queerness. I didn’t even know homophobia existed till I faced it in high school. But it’s so sad that most people don’t share this experience 😔
I too know who Yo Yo Ma is 🎻
I actually remember while going to a catholic highschool in Belgium, we watched the documentary during religion classes. Talking about how it was upsetting and the very extreme reactions the children showed. To think others just saw it neutrally is blowing my mind a little. I thought it was a very interesting duscussion how you experienced these environments. Much love
i get ashley had a bad time but that was basically 30 minutes of explaining the same thing over and over :,)
I feel like Yo-Yo Ma is so steeped in pop culture though - don't know anything about classical music either but I've heard him referenced in fiction books and even TV series and stuff 🤔
😂 this was my favorite “intro”
AUSTIN SHOW ATTENDEE 🥳 We loved you!!! Absolutely crushed it, had such an amazing time. You are hilarious and so wonderful with the crowd.
It’s funny, I actually really love recorded stand-up specials. I enjoy the writing of it. Seeing it live you’re so much more in the moment but at home you can really think more freely about what’s going on in there. I don’t always laugh very freely, so it’s kinda nice to feel like I can quietly enjoy the comedy without feeling like a bad audience member for not laughing at something I enjoy.
Yo-yo ma was all over PBS in the 90s/00s lol
i wouldn't have bet my hand on which instrument but i definitely knew yoyo ma was some crazy good classical musician
I watched that show through Ashley's patreon link and I could feel the weird vibe through the video. The lack of laughing was eerie, can't wait to hear the new stuff with a better audience.
I have a few notes for your podcast... It's hilarious! 😂
Lmao Ashley yelling about Jesus camp. My thoughts exactly.
i’m a pastor’s kid and i’ve been to church camp from about when i was in 7th grade to 11th grade i believe. there were definitely some interesting experiences and stories i had from that time.
Both Ashley’s and Alayna’s friend’s reactions to basic Christian life are the exact reason why I refuse to be ‘grateful’ for having to endure the bs religion puts us through. I am grateful that I made it out on the other side. BUT we both ended up in the same place of discernment. No religious trauma necessary.
Wow Christianity is so extreme in the US :')
I'm French, raised Christian with mass every week, a bit of Christian girls scout, and at no point was I expected to hear God regularly or cry during prayer :')
Church was life. I agree with this statement and it was so difficult for me growing up knowing im gay in that environment. So much trauma.
Once again I thank my family for not bringing me up religious. The first time I heard a chorus it was like a trascendental experience, but I just attributed that to art hehe
I grew up singing in those church choirs and loved the singing part. I stopped for about 5 years when I left for college and came out. This year I joined the San Diego Women’s chorus and it has been so cool and healing to step into an intergenerational music space that is explicitly queer. Highly recommend seeking out GALA choruses if you want to find some cool choirs!
I had a very similar experience! I grew up catholic (in Italy) and absolutely loved the singing part of Mass, still do. Then I moved for uni and left the choir, even though I've maintained a good relationship to my community and faith after growing up and coming out, but I really missed it... last year I got accepted in the university choir and although part of the repertoire is sacred music it's so different! I'm glad I could keep this passion alive, but with a totally different approach.
I WAS AT THAT SHOW THAT BOMBED!!! I still had an amazing time, I was starstruck the whole time
I know Yo-Yo Ma, Ashley!!! But I did have to look up the spelling
As an audience member for comedy I feel like part of why we think comedians are just bad when they have one bad show is because like they have their set. Singers have their set but maybe they’re sick. When comedians flop they’re just talking and have their set. No one realizes that it’s not the comedian that isn’t funny it’s the crowd that sucks. Nothings funny if you don’t allow yourself to have a sense of humor. I watch comedy at home and it’s funny but I don’t laugh. It’s about the environment. Everything’s funnier if you’re having a good time. Part of why Ashley’s so amazing is because she creates an amazing and funny environment along with being absolutely hilarious
Ashley is absolutely a pink shirt girly
I'm always so horrified by how culty religion is in America. I've never had such a terrible experience with it where I live
I could see Mac's confused face @14:30 on the cover of Vogue
top tip ashley (😅i’m aware of the irony yes) when u go to edinburgh don’t pronounce it burrow at the end it’s more like a bruh at the end, but like people will get it bc ur american so it’s probably fine
Ashley's fear of chanting throws me back to a scene in The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Kundera. He says the same thing. People chanting remind him of soviet dictatorships lol
I think Yo-Yo Ma is only mainstream in the USA. I'm a little familiar with classical music and modern soloists so I know of him, but I'd be surprised if any of my friends of family knows who he is.
The guy from Glass Onion? 😁🤣🤣
Yes, I know who Yo Yo Ma is!
Thanks! I didn't know Yo-Yo Ma and so totally missed his cameo.
As someone who was raised in the church, went to christian school k-12 and then fell into a conservative church group in college, oof I felt this one.
But I need to know what denomination Mak and Alayna were raised in because waiting to hear an explicit message from God is insane.
Also when I was little I remember wishing I was Jewish because I wanted to discuss my faith on an intellectual level and there was no one around me able or willing to do that.