🎉 Productivity Mastery #250 In this special milestone episode, our host Stoyan Yankov sits down with Olya Malinova, one of Bulgaria's most recognizable stand-up comedians, TV host at bTV, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Three Women on the Mic, for an entertaining, honest, and deeply personal conversation about comedy, creativity, ambition, overcoming fears, and the price of success. Olya's journey is anything but ordinary. From working summer jobs as a teenager and building an international career in marketing to becoming one of Bulgaria's leading female stand-up comedians, Olya has continuously reinvented herself. What started as an unexpected appearance at an open-mic comedy night turned into a successful comedy brand, sold-out performances in front of thousands of people, and international tours across Europe and Canada. But behind the laughter, the television appearances, and the successful businesses lies a story of relentless hard work, personal struggles, and important lessons learned along the way. In this episode, Stoyan and Olya explore what it really takes to make people laugh for a living, how comedians develop their material, overcome stage fright, and connect with audiences, and why even the most experienced performers struggle with self-doubt. They also dive into Olya's personal journey, the challenges of balancing multiple careers, and her experiences with burnout and depression. Olya opens up about the importance of setting boundaries, learning to say NO, and recognizing that success means nothing if it comes at the expense of your well-being. In this episode, you'll discover: • How Olya went from working in a call center to becoming an international marketing director, entrepreneur, TV host, and successful stand-up comedian • How an unexpected open mic performance launched her comedy career and eventually led to sold-out shows in front of thousands of people • What really happens behind the scenes of stand-up comedy, from writing material and rehearsing to delivering jokes and connecting with audiences • Why Olya still experiences intense stage fright after nine years of performing, and what she's learned about facing fear and self-doubt • How Olya approaches creativity, develops her comedy material, and overcomes creative blocks and imposter syndrome • Why Olya believes performing stand-up comedy is significantly more challenging than hosting live television, and how she helps nervous TV guests feel comfortable • How overworking led Olya to experience severe burnout and depression, and the personal lessons she learned about mental health, seeking professional help, setting boundaries, and prioritizing herself Chapters 00:00 Episode 250 of Productivity Mastery 05:55 A demanding childhood, travel, and an expansive view of possibility 13:02 From saving for a car to a global marketing career 20:26 The accidental open mic that launched Olya's comedy journey 30:34 Why comedy needs personal stories, courage, and stage time 35:16 Stage fright as the performer’s persistent “small death” 44:20 Why comedians need a focused audience, not dinner chatter 47:06 The two-treadmill model for creativity and writing 55:58 Audience Q&A: TV nerves and choosing the right event format 01:02:07 Burnout, saying no, and protecting space in the calendar 01:14:09 Depression, professional help, and challenging mental-health stigma 01:21:08 Olya’s closing advice: care for yourself and make room for comedy _____ Enjoy listening and #KeepPERFORMing! Subscribe to Productivity Mastery Podcast 👇 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3DHrGKvqCduaXrEHrHazAR?si=92e8b757ef55433b Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/productivity-mastery/id1514614289 Website: https://stoyanyankov.com/podcast/
