Liza Treyger, the American comedian known for her Netflix special Night Owl, is kicking off her second European tour at Boom Chicago in Amsterdam this Tuesday. This marks her second performance at the venue.

Treyger, who has been performing stand-up for over sixteen years, says her new show will cover familiar ground. She plans to discuss topics such as weed, sex, her immigrant parents, and feminism.

While she has joked about fascism in the past, Treyger notes that the current political climate in America is too depressing to find humorous.

Treyger’s parents immigrated from Russia, and she was born in Odesa, Ukraine, before the family moved to Chicago when she was three. She acknowledges that Americans are often more focused on domestic issues than international conflicts, citing concerns about immigration policies and restrictions on journalists.

Treyger emphasizes the importance of connecting with women and people of color in her audience and is confident in her ability to recover from any jokes that might miss the mark.

Growing up, Treyger was drawn to television and movies and developed a keen sense of observation. She attributes this to feeling like an outsider and having to translate for her Russian-speaking parents.

Her journey into comedy began when she spontaneously participated in an open mic night while in college. Despite a shaky start, she persevered and found a supportive community of comedians.

A turning point in her career came in 2015 when she moved to New York and secured performances at major comedy festivals and The Comedy Cellar. It was then that she decided to pursue comedy full-time.

At The Comedy Cellar, Treyger met Louis CK, who offered her a role in his series Horace and Pete. She has also had notable acting experiences, including a role in Judd Apatow’s film The King of Staten Island, where she was given the freedom to improvise.

Treyger finds fulfillment in her comedy career, despite its challenges, and appreciates the many great moments she experiences.