SONYA VAI
Comedian • Actor • Writer • Activist
MY COMEDY
A Brilliant Blend of Culture & Comedy
Born and raised in the United States with a traditional Indian background, Sonya brilliantly bridges the gap between two diverse cultures and perspectives.
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ABOUT
A Brilliant Blend of Culture & Comedy
Sonya Vai is an International standup comedian who's had a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and toured throughout London, Paris, and Barcelona in over 50 shows. She won a year-long comedy mentorship for women of color from Sofia Chang's Unlock Her Potential and has been featured in The Hollywood Reporter and The New York Times. Her very first television pilot made it into the top 20% at the Austin Film Festival, and her appearance on PBS' Stories from the Stage premiered in November 2025. She recently emcee'd the annual fundraiser for the non-profit Foundation for Excellence where over half a million dollars was raised. She was booked by Nordstrom for their holiday event, and she performed at conferences for Females in Finance and Women in AI. She performs regularly in NYC at New York Comedy Club, Greenwich Village Comedy Club, The Stand, Gotham, Broadway Comedy Club, and other venues.
CALENDAR
PODCASTS
APPEARANCES
The Shift
In this ep Sonya Vai and I chat about the fact that some comedians are now saying Will Smith has made comedy dangerous. We discuss why as female comedians it's always been dangerous.
Confessions of a Working Actor
“Just keep going. Either don’t do it, or keep going, that’s all.” This week David and Chris get an interesting perspective on the business from prolific stand-up comic Sonya Vai.
Welcome To My Hood Film
We recorded this episode a week before the shooting of Jacob Blake, but unfortunately it correlates with our current episode. We chop it up with Queens, NY native Sonya Vai who is seeing her second hood film after Belly.
End All Forms of Gender-Based Violence in the South Asian Community
Domestic Violence and Abuse Must Stop
Domestic violence is an issue all around the world. The damage that it does goes beyond just physical harm; it also has profound emotional and psychological impacts. Despite the widespread nature of this problem, domestic violence remains under-reported due to various barriers such as fear, shame, stigma, lack of support, or lack of awareness about legal rights and support services. It's essential to increase awareness about domestic violence, inform victims about their rights and available resources, and create an environment where they feel safe and supported to come forward.
The Indian-American community is not immune from these issues, and culturally-specific factors compound the challenges faced by victims. Language barriers, fear of social ostracization, immigration status, and lack of knowledge about the U.S. legal system are just some of the unique obstacles faced by Indian-American women experiencing domestic violence.
Everyone has a role to play in ending domestic violence. By using our voices, our influence, and our resources, we can work towards a world where no one has to live in fear of violence in their own home. In partnership with Manavi, I aim to amplify change.
