From El Cid to the conversation

High as Fawx began with a room, a live audience and a mixed bill. Its move into podcasting grew out of the closure of live venues, carrying Fawx’s interest in performers and conversation into a different format.

A varied bill at El Cid

Comedian Richy Leis invited Fawx to host a variety show at El Cid in Los Angeles. She described evenings that brought together stand-up, music, dancers and acrobats. Her involvement extended beyond introducing the performers: she also booked acts and helped produce the show.

A February 2019 pre-Valentine’s edition advertised Jimmy Shubert, Kate Quigley, Chris Kane, Alexis Prigo and Abdullah Saeed, alongside Leis and performer-comedian Silvia Saige. Flyin’ Lion supplied the music. The mixed line-up made the evening a combination of comedy and live performance.

When the room became a recording

Pandemic venue closures interrupted the live format. Fawx and her friend and business partner Joe developed a podcast in its place, with the two sharing hosting duties. Rather than reproduce a stage bill, they built episodes around guests and conversation.

She described inviting colleagues from entertainment, comedians and people she knew through business. Personal experiences and working life also became subjects. By her 2024 interview, she was recalling conversations recorded with creators during an industry gathering, alongside the show’s usual guest discussions.

A host who wants the story

Asked what makes a good interview, Fawx described a balance between useful information and entertainment. She wanted listeners to understand a guest’s background and direction, while leaving space for the stories that make a conversation memorable.

An anecdote could introduce another question rather than close a topic. That approach suited the casual atmosphere she described with Joe: an exchange shaped by the guest’s experiences, with humour and curiosity alongside discussion of their work.