We’re looking forward to introducing you to Dr. Anna Lepeley. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Anna, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Women. Well, I should say a woman. I’m currently dating a Puerto Rican girl right now (from Puerto Rico) and I could listen to her read a telephone book in English or Spanish. I had mostly dated latin women from the mainland US who didn’t speak Spanish proficiently and after this one, I don’t think I can ever go back to a “no sabo” woman, no matter how hot she is. That’s like buying croquetas at Cracker Barrel.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Dr. Anna Lepeley. I’m a full-time nationally touring, Cuban-American headliner and feature. You can see me all over the country and you won’t want to miss my merch after the show. I take a lot of pride in how cool my audiences and fans are and how much I genuinely like them in return. They’re pretty awesome. I also go to a lot of cities and towns in the south. I love performing for audiences that I have nothing in common with and by the end of the show, they realize we have so much in common.
My comedy show is just a party. People need a break from reality and I love giving them a good time.
I have a PhD in Exercise Biochemistry and Nutrition research. I used to do a lot of interesting things in the academic world but most of it paid in tootsie rolls. I was also a subject matter on hydration and I used to give seminars to bomb technicians (guys who detonate bombs). That was probably my favorite gig until they cut the federal funding. So I married comedy and I treat her pretty well (I devote most of my time to strategizing tours and reaching out to bookers as well as producing shows) and 99% of the time she’s really good to me.
I love breaking stereotypes in my comedy. I think it helps break down barriers in my audiences and open their minds more effectively. For example, I’ve never done drugs (not even the weed) yet I dress like I supplied them for Motley Crüe in the Rainbow Room in 1988. I’m a lesbian and I forget that I am because my favorite movie is Terminator 2, I know nothing about zodiac signs, and I’ve never moved in with a girl. I adore my lesbian fans (they never go out though because they’re always tending to some farm) but the majority of my fan base are straight people, of all adult ages, and gay guys. I think versatility in comedy is incredibly important as well as authenticity. But what do I know? I’m not famous. I just work really hard and do the damn thing. I’m doing one sophisticated venue one night, the next night I’m doing a bar where people fight each other with broken bottles because I have to pay my hotels on tour, the next night I’m doing your girlfriend. She’s a terrible cook. You can keep her. Come to my shows. Please don’t ask me questions before the show. And only ask me questions if you’re buying merch and I like you. I’ll probably like you. Make the questions easy to answer. If they require long answers, you better take me out for some fried shrimp.
Two more things: I sell my 2nd published book “Beer is Good for You” at shows and I travel with my 16.5 year old cat. She’s not at the show. I treat her like an Egyptian princess. She’s at the Ritz Carlton watching the Golden Girls drinking champagne collecting whatever money I make after shows. She is obsessed with hygiene like I am.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
That I’m ugly. I mean, I am pretty weird looking but I like it. I was always told as a kid that I was ugly and that I didn’t fit it in because I was so androgynous and often mistaken for a boy. I think growing up thinking that you’re ugly puts you in a very resilient state with an indestructible self esteem. It also makes you way less of a douche in the dating world because I never hit on women. On stage, I hit on everyone. Off stage, I think flirting should always be mutual and in my head, I’m incredibly confident but I’m still stuck with appearing ugly to society so women have to, essentially, “bother” me. I will never bother them. I lift a lot of weights, I’m weird looking, and I’m pretty happy with that. I’m grateful for this mindset, though. It has definitely prevented me from being a delusional tiktok-er with the personality of a boiled ham.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would say to little kid-me in 1989 “Go buy a house in Coconut Grove, you dipsh*t. Stop watching Gumby and Pee-Wee’s playhouse. You just sold 18 Snicker’s bar on the school bus, you hustler. Buy us some real estate, not skateboarding sh*t, you assh*le. I love you, though. Things get better, I promise, but they won’t be as cool as the 80s and 90s.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
I don’t know if self awareness is a cultural value but I’m choosing that. The noise you make and the smells you emit should be within your own personal space. I’ll elaborate. Don’t bring loud music to the beach. It’s nature. Don’t give free concerts from your Hyundai Elantra in the Wawa parking lot. Put in headphones and make yourself deaf or just enjoy the music without vibrating the whole gas station. Vibrate at home, girl. Go off, if you don’t have neighbors. Keep it to yourself within your own world and enjoy. Don’t be stinky. Be nice to old people. Be nice to animals. Just be nice in general, actually. You’ll be surprised at how much you like it. Don’t litter. Also, if you’re too concerned with what consenting adults do in their personal lives/bedrooms, it’s because you don’t get laid and hate yourself. Furries are kind of weird though but they’re probably really nice people, in general. Sorry, furries, I’ll give you wolves, raccoons, and other indiscernible animal costumes a chance.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
If I win the lotto and/or become famous, I will still make it a point to go all the places people have been so good to me. That’s a lot of places. I won’t stop what I’m doing. It makes a lot people happy and it makes me happy and it’ll help me buy some pirate animatronics for wherever I have my home base(s).
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Dr_Lepeley
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1H2u4XaWpn/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Image Credits
Travis Santos photography
Lex Borges Photography
Arliss Johnson Photography
