Toronto-based comedian Aisha Brown has made quite a name for herself all across the country. She has appeared at Just for Laughs in Montreal, JFL42 in Toronto, the Guelph Comedy Festival, Sketchfest, Toronto’s Field Trip festival, and recently on Kevin Hart’s LOL Network. She was named by Yuk Yuk’s co-founder Mark Breslin as a Canadian comedian to watch, and was featured in the Torontoist’s Local Ladies Who Make Us Laugh 2016.

She is also an actor, appearing on The Beaverton (Comedy) and Terrific Women (CBC Comedy); a writer for Baroness Von Sketch Show (CBC) and The Beaverton (Comedy); and a member of Runnin’ At The Mouth (a hip hop comedy group that just released a new album, Creamsoda Furcoat, and who’s videos are available on CBC Comedy).

This month, Aisha will be performing her first televised gala at Just For Laughs in Montreal (July 24-29), and next month she’ll be performing stand-up at Camp Wavelength (August 18).

We caught up with Aisha this week.

SDTC: What’s at the top of your bucket list?

AB: Going to Disney World…or anal. They’re pretty much tied for first. 

What’s your go-to song for getting stuff done?

If by getting stuff done you mean procrastinate by writhing around sexily in the mirror until I tire myself out and eventually buckle down…”Freedom” by George Michael. 

What advice would you give to your fourteen-year-old self?

You are under no obligation to be liked by everyone, or to like everyone. Also, throw out any hat in your possession that looks like it came from the set of Blossom. 

Who has made a big impact in your life recently, and how?

A really tough time pushed me into finally seeing a therapist and dealing head on with a lot of issues. She is fantastic. I wish everybody could grow up with proper access to mental health resources and zero stigma about needing help.

What word/phrase should we be saying more often?

“Let’s not have this conversation on Twitter.”

Who/what are you sick of hearing about?

Lists of 30 people under 30 who are exceptional. How about a list of people who are hanging in there, above 36?

What does your ideal Saturday look like?

My friends message me out of the blue to confirm that brunch is cancelled. The bar gig I’ve booked in a town populated by all of the adults in Footloose–also cancelled. The perfect order of Chinese food arrives at my door. My boyfriend wants to spend the night binge watching and shit talking old Gilmore Girls episodes.

What’s the best part of being your current age?

I am young enough to pull off a side ponytail and old enough to not care about what people think of my side ponytail. 

Fave rainy day comfort food?

I recently learned how to make blueberry grunts, an old-timey Nova Scotian dessert dumpling steamed in blueberry sauce. It feels like a hug from the cast of Road to Avonlea.

What adult task would you like to get better at?

I’d love to get better at not living in my parents’ basement…and something to do with being responsible with money.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be Debbie Allen.

What is one little-known fact about you?

I volunteer-taught a fake Zumba class called Arriba at my local gym in Scarborough for a little over a year. I had a small and loyal following of senior citizens and pre-teens. 

What is your idea of happiness?

Not feeling judged, hungry, worried, or angry. Happiness is being in fed and in bed after a good show.