10 Questions with Alana Johnston
Alana Johnson is an LA-based actress, sketch performer, and writer. The bio on her website says she is from Toronto, but this is a lie. She is originally from Orangeville, Ontario, just like me!
Alana was the queen of improv at my high school, where improv was kind of a big deal. Like, our improv team was more popular than our sports teams. Even though I did dance and drama and spent most of my time loitering around the art department office (because I was a very cool teenager who loved hanging out with teachers), I was generally the sort of artsy kid that needed to work on their artsy things in alone in their bedroom for, like, 6 weeks while listening to Tori Amos before daring to show it to anyone. I completely lacked the spontaneity and courage needed to just make stuff up on the spot in front of an audience of actual human beings. Alana was the opposite of this. I was in absolute awe of her.
These days, Alana lives and works in Los Angels, where she the host of the very funny and insightful podcast “Self Esteem Party” (available wherever you get your podcasts). She is also the host of "I Want My Phone Back" for Facebook/College Humor and a series regular on the Disney XD & Warner Bros. produced cartoon "Right Now KaPow." She has appeared as a Guest Star on shows such as “Conan” on TBS, “Earth to Ned” on Disney Plus, “My Least Favorite Thing” on Comedy Central, “Comedy Bang Bang" and "Birthday Boys" for IFC, "Adam Ruins Everything" for TruTV, "BLAIR" for TBS Online, and "The UCB Show" on Seeso. Alana has written on pilots and digital platforms for Comedy Central, Adult Swim, Funny or Die, College Humor, Disney XD, YouTube, & Buzzfeed. She was also the creator/star of her own pilot "Alana in Available" for Comedy Central, “I Got This” for Just For Laughs and "Cousins" for Bell Media Canada. She frequently performs sketch, characters and her solo show at Upright Citizen's Brigade and The Lyric Hyperion. Her comedic pop album, also named "Self Esteem Party" is available on iTunes.
I was a cripplingly insecure teenager. Improv seemed like this incredibly impossible, very cool thing that I could never do because I was so terrified of looking ridiculous. Which is why I was so dang jealous of you, who always seemed like the most confident, self assured kid. Like, almost supernaturally confident. Which is why I was a little taken aback the first time I realized the title of your podcast, Self Esteem Party, was not really a joke (thought it is a very, very funny podcast), and that you were talking about very real struggles with imposter syndrome, with insecurity, with the challenge of maintaining a sense of purpose in your work and life. Were these struggles something that showed up later in life for you, or were you perhaps a little less sure of yourself in high school than you appeared?
Alana: Coming in HOT on this question! Jealous of me? I’m flattered but let’s be honest, you could have done better ;) You owe yourself this much, Kate! I struggled with self-esteem all the time about everything except improv. Back then (and to this day), onstage was the only time I felt comfortable and completely myself so during high school it saved me. In terms of confidence with looks, grades, friendships and basically everything else I was a mess. It was a real fake it till you make it scam I was pulling off. Act confident and hope the rest falls into place which it absolutely did not. So ya, I felt insecure right from the jump. I think that’s common for a lot of people. Actually made it easier to let go of insecurities later in life because it was like I already got it out of the way, ya know?
2. I knew I wanted to be a writer from the time I was, like, 8 years old, but it took me until I was 30 to understand what that actually meant for me. You were very clearly an entertainer from the time you were super small, but how and when did you figure out what exactly being an entertainer would entail for you, and how did you learn how to actually do that job?
Alana: To be honest with you, I kind of just guessed that comedy was right for me. Doing improv in high school was fun so I thought I’d just keep at it and see what happens. And then the rest of my career sort of presented itself to me. I never got anything I went after; it all just sort of fell into my lap while I was working away on other things. And taking classes was very beneficial, even just to meet new friends that are like minded.
3. When you were a super funny kid in small town Ontario dreaming of being a successful performer, what did you imagine that would even look like? How has your definition of success evolved (or not!) over the years?
Alana: I just wanted to get paid to be me one day so yes, I am the most successful person to have ever lived. Turns out you can just say it and no one can stop you!
4. What does your work space look like? What conditions/rituals/snacks/etc. do you like to have in place while you’re working?
Alana: I have an office that’s painted periwinkle blue and is very bright and sunny and totally puts me in the right mood to work. There are accents of color everywhere and reminders of the work I’ve done and work I need to do. I always have water with me and usually a coffee. I do have a desk but always end up writing on the couch instead. It’s magenta colored and I’m not going to be the maniac that doesn’t take advantage of that.
5. I have never been to LA! What are the best and worst things about living there?
Alana: Best is the sunshine, worst is the sunburns.
6. What is really funny to you? What makes you pee-your-pants laugh?
Alana: Kate, you’ve left me no choice but to say myself. You walked right into that one.
7. If you could throw a fantasy dinner party where any 10 people, living or dead, who would you invite? What would you eat? What would the music be?
I don’t know what kind of dinner parties you’re throwing but you are out to lunch if you think I’m inviting a bunch of corpses to my classy event. That goes for boring people too. How dare you have the audacity to ruin my party with your stories about cousins and what have you. And you expect me to cook for 10 people as if that’s not an ungodly number of guests? What am I, a soup kitchen? You’re outta your mind on this one Kate!!! What would these fictional guests and I eat? Food. What would the music be? One of my pop songs from my album conveniently named “Self Esteem Party”. When you’ve got a great brand, you go with it.
8. I am such a fan of your podcast, but I can only image the intense investment of time and energy that it requires. I can barely keep a blog going! Why a podcast? How does that piece fit with or speak to the bigger jigsaw puzzle of your career? Why are those conversations with your colleagues important for you to not only have but to share publicly?
Alana: My friends basically forced me to start a podcast! It really helped me stay sharp comedically and emotionally during the pandemic so I was grateful to have it. An easy way to connect with people. I guess in a larger sense it really helped me with my hosting skills! And I love attention so everything I do MUST be publicly shared.
9. What are you currently obsessed with? Who should we all be paying attention to right now? (Could be other performers, music, books, small appliances, etc.)
Alana: Recently saw Weezer in concert and cannot get ENOUGH.
10. What would you tell high school Alana if you could talk to her right now?
Alana: GET IT TOGETHER.
CONNECT WITH ALANA ONLINE:
website: alanajohnston.com
Instagram: @theonlyalanajohnston
The Self Esteem Party on Instagram: @selfesteemparty
