‘I’m no fighter. Really.’: Vera Kotelnikova describes how she learned to make it as a standup comic in Russia

At 27, Vera Kotelnikova is one of the stars of Russia's independent standup comedy scene. Late last year, she released a half-hour special where she riffed on feminism, masturbation, relationships, weight loss, and other sensitive topics. On YouTube, the show now has more than 1.4 million views. Kotelnikova has appeared on several other popular comedy programs, as well. Meduza special correspondent Alexandra Sivtsova spoke to Kotelnikova to find out how comedians in Russia come up with their jokes, cope with self-doubts, manage creative stagnation, and navigate various forms of censorship. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/09/i-m-no-fighter-really