Breaking Bread with Tom Papa — Episode 347: Sarah Tiana

Sarah Tiana has spent years building a career at the intersection of comedy and sports, and the way she approaches both reveals a sharp, practical psychology about reading rooms, earning buy-in, and knowing when to set your own material aside. In conversation with Tom Papa, she walks through the specific strategies she uses to perform for athletes, corporate audiences, and anyone who isn't there primarily to see a comedian.

Writing for the room, not for yourself

The most concrete lesson from the episode comes from Tiana's approach to performing for sports teams. When she does shows for players, she doesn't show up with her usual act. Instead, she goes up to each player beforehand and asks them to give her a joke about a teammate. She writes a few more while mingling, keeps them on a Google Doc on her phone, and performs those jokes on stage. The players become invested because they contributed material. "All that matters is that the team likes me," she says. "I don't really care if the owner does."