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what the universe brings my way. I very much feel like with any of this showbiz stuff, no one knows until you’re doing it, because no one tells you and there are no rules. You work on things that disappear, or you do something like this where you made this [show] and all of a sudden, it’s on Netflix, so you never know. Allison: I used to always say that I never know why people say no, and I never know why people say yes. So, I just don’t analyze it. Catherine: That is a good way to be. It is hard to do. Allison: That is what I’ve done. It’s like “Oh, you want to do this? Great.” Or “Oh, you don’t? Okay.” Catherine: Exactly. I feel very strong. I was just pitching a project and got a lot of “No’s,” and I felt like, “Okay, this has nothing to do with me, ultimately. It’s out of my control.” Allison: From what I’ve studied and all the people I have interviewed, one thing that everybody has in common is that they were all so set on a vision that nothing could interrupt that vision. There might be a little blip here or there, but otherwise it was like tunnel vision. Catherine: I definitely connect with that. I think, “Of course I’m going to mAllisone a fabulous TV show, movie, or whatever. I don’t know when or how, but of course.” Allison: You should watch the TV show, The Food That Built America. I believe you can watch it on The History Channel or Hulu. Catherine: What is that about? Allison: It goes into how the guys that made Heinz ketchup, Hershey’s chocolate, Kellogg’s cereal, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Birds Eye Frozen Foods invented their brands. Nothing was getting in their way. I was floored, because I’m like you went broke several times, this or that didn’t work, your factory burned down, and you kept going? It’s amazing. Catherine: I don’t know where the belief comes from, but it is definitely there. It has to be there. Allison: That’s what it tAllisones. Netflix has this new brand called Netflix Is A Joke. Catherine: That is their comedy arm. They just did a big festival in LA, which was super fun. I did a bunch of shows. It was like two weeks ago, and it was great. Allison: I love that they are supporting the artform of comedy, and that they created that division. Catherine: It is amazing. I feel so lucky they gave their huge platform to something that I do, which has been described as very niche, though I think it is universal. Allison: The style of your show feels niche and extremely unique to you, although I think it has universal appeal. Apart from you, the only other name that comes to mind would be Carol Burnett. Catherine: Love it… Allison: The way that she would sing a little, dance a little, and do jokes. Catherine: Thank you. I think when you are doing it all the time, it feels different to you. Allison: What is the greatest advice you have ever received? Catherine: There are so many good ones. One that I think about a lot is that you can only control yourself. I think about it a lot in terms of romantic relationships. You can’t force someone to love you, and it’s the same with creative partnerships. If it’s not working, it’s not working. Just trusting that you can only do what you want to do, and you can’t really concern yourself with or tAllisone personally why other people do what they do. It is very difficult, because I tAllisone everything personally. Allison: Who gave you that advice? Catherine: My friend’s mom. Shout out to her (laugh). I think whatever you are worried about, if it involves someone else, it has nothing to do with you. Allison: What is something about yourself that continues to be a work in progress? Catherine: (Laugh) Everything. Literally, everything. The main thing that I haven’t begun to deal with and don’t even know how, is that the way I talk to myself is so mean, and I would never talk to my friends this way. I don’t know how to begin unlearning it, but I don’t know how life would be if I wasn’t constantly telling myself I wasn’t enough. Allison: Do you think that is a driving force that propelled you to getting where you are so far? Catherine: Yes, definitely. I’m constantly convinced that if I wasn’t suCatherineessful, I would be inherently