Judy Carter author photo

Judy Carter

Judy Carter is an American comedian, speaker, author, and writing coach whose work centers on comedy, storytelling, and personal branding. She is best known for The Comedy Bible and The Message of You, books that have helped comedians, entrepreneurs, and speakers turn personal experience into stage material, talks, and marketable ideas.

Biography & Author's Journey

Judy Carter built her career by turning early difficulty into performance craft. Raised in Los Angeles, she has said that she grew up with a severe speech impediment and a disabled older sister, experiences that pushed her toward humor, storytelling, and magic. Her informal education began in libraries and magic shops; her formal training included USC’s theater program. Before she was widely known as an author, she worked as a magician and became the first woman to play the Close-Up Gallery at Hollywood’s Magic Castle. Another turning point came when lost luggage derailed her magic act on tour and pushed her, suddenly and decisively, toward stand-up comedy. ((https://voyagela.com/interview/meet-judy-carter-comedy-workshop-productions-venice-beach/?utm_source=openai))

Show More

Quotes

quote
Stand-up comedy is about breaking rules
-The New Comedy Bible
quote
But before you break them, learn them
-The New Comedy Bible
quote
I'm here to tell you that your life has meaning, your stories can inspire, and your message can heal
-The Message of You
quote
Before blowing up, stop and breathe
-The Message of You Journal
quote
Anger is NEVER an effective form of communication
-The Message of You Journal
quote
you can’t spell message without your mess
-Improv Is No Joke - Episode 19
quote
don’t get mad… get funny
-Using Humor to Lighten Up Your Workplace
quote
people respond to emotion, not data
-Entrepreneurs: 8 Tips for Telling Your Hero Story
quote
People in negotiations get tense, and a joke at the right time and the right place can shake the balance of power
-Comedy Boot Camp’s a Laughing Matter
quote
I had to be funny. What else was I to do, right?
-Judy Carter to Talk in CIF on Humor & Problem-Solving

Discover more

Humor to sway crowds

Humor to sway crowds

LEARNING PLAN

Humor to sway crowds

Humor is one of the most powerful yet underutilized tools in persuasion and public influence. This learning plan equips speakers, leaders, and communicators with tactical humor skills to connect with audiences, make messages memorable, and ultimately sway opinions and inspire action.

1 h 22 m4 Sections
Improve humor and social charisma

Improve humor and social charisma

LEARNING PLAN

Improve humor and social charisma

Social success is often a learned skill rather than an innate trait. This plan is designed for professionals and individuals looking to overcome social friction by mastering the mechanics of wit, presence, and narrative influence.

1 h 56 m4 Sections
Improve Communication, Confidence & Humor

Improve Communication, Confidence & Humor

LEARNING PLAN

Improve Communication, Confidence & Humor

This plan is essential for professionals and individuals looking to break through social barriers and lead with authority. It is designed for anyone who wants to pair technical expertise with the charismatic soft skills needed to influence and inspire others.

2 h 9 m4 Sections
Research humour

Research humour

LEARNING PLAN

Research humour

Humor is a universal human experience with profound implications for communication, social bonding, and psychological well-being. This learning plan provides a comprehensive research foundation for anyone interested in comedy, communication, psychology, or those seeking to harness humor's power in professional and personal contexts.

1 h 30 m4 Sections
Master Charisma, Public Speaking & Outreach

Master Charisma, Public Speaking & Outreach

LEARNING PLAN

Master Charisma, Public Speaking & Outreach

In an era where personal branding and communication are paramount, this plan provides the essential toolkit for high-impact leadership. It is designed for professionals, entrepreneurs, and aspiring speakers who want to master the science of influence and human connection.

2 h 38 m4 Sections
Conversation

Conversation

LEARNING PLAN

Conversation

Effective communication is the cornerstone of professional success and personal fulfillment. This plan is designed for anyone looking to transform their social interactions from awkward exchanges into powerful opportunities for connection and influence.

3 h 5 m4 Sections
Master banter, body language & quick wit

Master banter, body language & quick wit

LEARNING PLAN

Master banter, body language & quick wit

In a world where digital interaction dominates, mastering face-to-face charisma is a vital competitive advantage. This plan is designed for professionals and individuals looking to overcome social anxiety, sharpen their humor, and project a more confident, influential presence in any environment.

1 h 23 m4 Sections
Explore Creativity, Memoirs & Inspiration

Explore Creativity, Memoirs & Inspiration

LEARNING PLAN

Explore Creativity, Memoirs & Inspiration

This learning plan is designed for individuals seeking to bridge the gap between inspiration and action by studying the habits of extraordinary people. It provides a structured path for anyone looking to overcome creative stagnation and build a life centered around authentic self-expression and sustainable innovation.

2 h 35 m4 Sections

Community Voices

"Judy Carter helps others find their authentic persona and communicate in a way that makes audiences laugh"

Lily Tomlin

"Judy Carter can show you how to make your sense of humor pay off"

Oprah Winfrey

"Judy Carter's book gave me the tools to have a successful career in stand-up comedy"

Maz Jobrani

"Judy Carter taught me to be funny"

Diane Sawyer

"Judy Carter's comedy-building exercises launched my comedy career"

Sherri Shepherd

"Judy Carter puts a comedy spin on workplace stress"

The Wall Street Journal

FAQs about this page

From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

BeFreed Brings Together A Global Community Of 1,000,000 Curious Minds

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star
1.5K Ratings4.7
Start your learning journey, now