We’re looking forward to introducing you to Christine Blackburn. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Christine, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I’m up by 7am and the first thing I do is feed my cats, Sophie and Baby. After that frenzy, I make coffee and check my emails, then it’s down to my garden to water, look around, and chase coyotes off. They’re outside like clockwork, every dusk and every dawn. Their skittish and I feel bad we’ve encroached on their territory, but these guys are fearless, bold, and will eat your cat if you let them outside. I usually exercise in the morning, which is running around the neighborhood for about 30 minutes.. That’s about it!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Christine Blackburn, a storyteller at heart and a performer by trade. In 1996, I joined the Peace Corps and lived on a tiny outer island in Tonga, sharing a one-room home with a family of four. That experience taught me that joy and connection don’t come from wealth or comfort — they come from community, curiosity, and creativity.
Since then, I’ve pursued storytelling in many forms. I’ve been podcasting with Story Worthy for 15 years, and my podcast My Life in 3 Songs on Spotify is my favorite project to date, exploring the songs that shape comedians’ lives.
I perform stand-up comedy as much as possible, and for over 12 years, I’ve hosted Story Smash: The Storytelling Game Show, LA’s longest-running storytelling game show, where true tales meet game show antics and anything can happen. Writer Danny Zuker and comedian Blaine Capatch are the “expert” judges, and it’s the most fun you can have in 90 minutes.
This fall, I’m producing the Off-Broadway play The Pitch with the brilliant radio legend Phil Hendrie. The show will be at The Actors Temple Theatre on 47th Street in Manhattan. I’ve worked on the last three productions of The Pitch in Los Angeles, and now it’s time to take it to New York!
Across all of these projects, my goal is the same: to explore the human experience with humor, honesty, and a touch of irreverence.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I joined the Peace Corps in 1996 and was sent to Tonga, this tiny island nation in the South Pacific. I lived with a family of four in a one-room house — no electricity, no running water, just a curtain dividing the space. They gave me one side with a little bed and mosquito net, and they all slept on the floor on the other side. And here’s what really struck me: they were genuinely happy. They didn’t measure life by what they didn’t have — just by their community. That experience completely shifted how I think about wealth and what actually matters.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d tell my younger self: stop worrying about what other people think. Everyone’s insecure, everyone’s struggling in their own way. Just focus on doing your best and on your own growth, not on comparing yourself to others. Money doesn’t solve everything — I know plenty of wealthy people who are miserable. Life will always bring challenges, so don’t waste time on jealousy. It won’t serve you. Do your best, and let the rest go.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I think the biggest lies are in beauty and fitness. We act like everyone’s supposed to look like a supermodel or perform like a pro athlete, when really there are only a handful of people in the world like that. Most people are just trying to hold it all together — even famous people. They’ve got the same problems we all do. Insecurity.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
What I understand deeply is that your personal best has nothing to do with anyone else. Life isn’t a competition — it’s about staying true to yourself and doing what’s right for you. If you want to be a tennis player, you play as much as you can and study others. If you want to be a comedian or actor, you have to perform every day. It’s a wild commitment, and there’s no shortcut. You work hard, surround yourself with what you love, and make sacrifices. If you want the comforts of a big house, laundry room, dishwasher, and all that, a ‘regular’ job might be the easier path — and that’s fine too. Delay gratification if you can.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://christineblackburn.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyworthy/
- Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3hTaroc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christine.blackburn.10/
- Youtube: https://bit.ly/3jpZJDA
- Other: BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/storyworthy.bsky.social
Linktree https://linktr.ee/ChristineBlackburn
https://www.thepitchoffbroadway.com/
https://www.storysmashshow.com/
https://www.storyworthypodcast.com/
Image Credits
Justin Gill
