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Baratunde Thurston: 'Comedy is my weapon for the soul' Baratunde Thurston: 'Comedy is my weapon for the soul'
(7 days later)
These days, Baratunde Thurston is busy enough to be the kind of person whose first interview of the day serves as his alarm clock.These days, Baratunde Thurston is busy enough to be the kind of person whose first interview of the day serves as his alarm clock.
In the span of those few moments between sleeping and being awake, the 35-year-old man of many titles (comedian, bestselling author, and techie, just to name a few) has rattled off a handful of his latest projects. Though his main focus lately is on his creatives-for-hire company, Cultivated Wit, he's also working on a Comedy Hack Day event at MIT wherein engineers build "hilarious technical improvisations" and "get prizes and whiskey". In his spare time, whenever that is, he's working on a web series with AOL about crowdfunded businesses and hitting the speaking circuit, "always traveling and yelling at people from stages." In the span of those few moments between sleeping and being awake, the 35-year-old man of many titles (comedian, bestselling author, and techie, just to name a few) has rattled off a handful of his latest projects. Though his main focus lately is on his creatives-for-hire company, Cultivated Wit, he's also working on a Comedy Hack Day event at MIT wherein engineers build "hilarious technical improvisations" and "get prizes and whiskey". In his spare time, whenever that is, he's working on a web series with AOL about crowdfunded businesses and hitting the speaking circuit, "always traveling and yelling at people from stages." 
As a funny guy, Thurston's had plenty of practice: he's an alum of the Onion, a satirical news source.As a funny guy, Thurston's had plenty of practice: he's an alum of the Onion, a satirical news source.
"I think it occupies a good space in the world," he said. "In terms of it going too far with stories, there's always been ups and downs in a place like the Onion, like any creative place." "I think it occupies a good space in the world," he said. "In terms of it going too far with stories, there's always been ups and downs in a place like the Onion, like any creative place." 
He used his departure from the Onion to write and publicize How to Be Black, a book of essays that blended wit and memoir and rocketed him to another level of notoriety. More than a year after the book launch, Thurston says the book has been introduced to high school and college students around the country. But what's surprised him the most about the process is how readers have, ironically, judged his book by its cover. He used his departure from the Onion to write and publicize How to Be Black, a book of essays that blended wit and memoir and rocketed him to another level of notoriety. More than a year after the book launch, Thurston says the book has been introduced to high school and college students around the country. But what's surprised him the most about the process is how readers have, ironically, judged his book by its cover. 
"The Instagram explosion of the book has been much bigger than I would've anticipated," he said. "You take your 60,000 words and the thing people are most obsessed with is the cover. You build it, they will come, but they might not come inside. They might just hang out on your porch." "The Instagram explosion of the book has been much bigger than I would've anticipated," he said. "You take your 60,000 words and the thing people are most obsessed with is the cover. You build it, they will come, but they might not come inside. They might just hang out on your porch." 
As he moves forward with Cultivated Wit and other assorted projects, he's thinking a lot about where technology can take comedy. As he moves forward with Cultivated Wit and other assorted projects, he's thinking a lot about where technology can take comedy. 
"I think we're beyond the point in our technological evolution where tech is something that stands alone for its own sake and is only for people who are 'tech people.' Now tech is culture. There used to be an internet meme. Now it's just a meme. It's like how hip-hop culture has sort of infused everything ... for better or worse, everyone uses the word 'twerk.' It's increasingly just that we're all part of the same pool. I get excited by that because it gives us a chance to sort of apply ourselves and grow." "I think we're beyond the point in our technological evolution where tech is something that stands alone for its own sake and is only for people who are 'tech people.' Now tech is culture. There used to be an internet meme. Now it's just a meme. It's like how hip-hop culture has sort of infused everything ... for better or worse, everyone uses the word 'twerk.' It's increasingly just that we're all part of the same pool. I get excited by that because it gives us a chance to sort of apply ourselves and grow." 
Status Update Status Update 
What was your first screen name?What was your first screen name?
Pretty sure it was "dolemite" and then some series of numbers. I was obsessed with Dolemite in my teen years. I played a BBS game called Dominion, where you took over various planets with a fleet, and I think that was my first online username.Pretty sure it was "dolemite" and then some series of numbers. I was obsessed with Dolemite in my teen years. I played a BBS game called Dominion, where you took over various planets with a fleet, and I think that was my first online username.
What was your worst day ever?What was your worst day ever?
Jesus. You guys don't pull any punches. Day my marriage ended. Thanks for the sensitivity, Guardian!Jesus. You guys don't pull any punches. Day my marriage ended. Thanks for the sensitivity, Guardian!
What is your favorite smell?What is your favorite smell?
I still have some oils my mom left behind. They smell great and remind me of her.I still have some oils my mom left behind. They smell great and remind me of her.
Who would you invite to your ideal dinner party?Who would you invite to your ideal dinner party?
Bill Cosby, my friends Anand Giridharadas and Priya Parker, Kermit the Frog, my sister Belinda Thurston, Bill Clinton, Michelle Obama, Questlove, the ghost of Che Guevara, and Bashar al-Assad, whom we'd force to sit in the corner and not enjoy the food or conversation.Bill Cosby, my friends Anand Giridharadas and Priya Parker, Kermit the Frog, my sister Belinda Thurston, Bill Clinton, Michelle Obama, Questlove, the ghost of Che Guevara, and Bashar al-Assad, whom we'd force to sit in the corner and not enjoy the food or conversation.
What cocktail are you most like and why?What cocktail are you most like and why?
Jack and Ginger cause I'm brown and a little spicy, a little sweet. Booyah!Jack and Ginger cause I'm brown and a little spicy, a little sweet. Booyah!
What are three items you will always find in your refrigerator? 
Cheese, sriracha, wine.		What are three items you will always find in your refrigerator? 
Cheese, sriracha, wine.
What were you doing at midnight last night? What were you doing at midnight last night? 
Checking things off my Asana to-do list.Checking things off my Asana to-do list.
What did your last text message you received say?What did your last text message you received say?
Oooo meeting a friend for dinner – how late does it go / are others welcome?Oooo meeting a friend for dinner – how late does it go / are others welcome?
What is a word you say a lot?What is a word you say a lot?
"Sweet.""Sweet."
Who was your first crush?Who was your first crush?
A little girl in my Head Start program. I tried to woo her by singing Ebony and Ivory by Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney. If you think that's too young for a true crush, then the next would have been Renee. I was in fifth grade. She was in sixth. I made her a one-song mix tape with Crush On You, by the Jets. I was a master of subtlety.A little girl in my Head Start program. I tried to woo her by singing Ebony and Ivory by Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney. If you think that's too young for a true crush, then the next would have been Renee. I was in fifth grade. She was in sixth. I made her a one-song mix tape with Crush On You, by the Jets. I was a master of subtlety.
What was your worst injury ever?What was your worst injury ever?
I have so many from which to choose. I'll go with tuberculosis in 2004. That wasn't the worst injury. It was the needle biopsy I had as the doctors tried to figure out what was wrong with me. A "needle biopsy" is a fancy way to say that a "surgeon" stabbed me in the chest with a massive sharp object, collapsed my lung, removed a chunk of it, and then got paid.I have so many from which to choose. I'll go with tuberculosis in 2004. That wasn't the worst injury. It was the needle biopsy I had as the doctors tried to figure out what was wrong with me. A "needle biopsy" is a fancy way to say that a "surgeon" stabbed me in the chest with a massive sharp object, collapsed my lung, removed a chunk of it, and then got paid.
What is the last song you listened to?What is the last song you listened to?
Crush On You, by the Jets.Crush On You, by the Jets.
Bonus question: What do you think people think of you?Bonus question: What do you think people think of you?
That dude never stops.That dude never stops.
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