Margaret cho is going strong on ‘live & livid’ tour | members only access

Margaret Cho, 55, has been working as a stand-up comedian for 40 years, blending her humor with a passion for activism. “My most ardent wish in my comedy is to inspire hope, inspire

optimism,” says Cho, who is currently traveling the country on her _Live & Livid_ tour. The Emmy and Grammy-nominated performer tells AARP how her message has shifted over the years,

how she’s keeping fit in her 50s and why she believes menopause is amazing. _This interview has been edited for length and clarity._ What’s the focus of your current comedy tour? Cho is

currently performing stand-up on her nationwide ‘Live & Livid’ comedy tour. Sergio Garcia I’m celebrating 40 years of being a stand-up comedian, so like Madonna’s tour, it’s a

celebration of my amazing career that’s still going strong. I also talk about women’s rights, the ownership over our own bodies and the importance of protecting drag queens. Drag is a really

big part of my life, and drag queens are among my friends and family, so I really want to stand up for them. Menopause is also a big part of the show, and I talk a lot about aging and how I

relate to the world as a postmenopausal person. What’s your take on menopause? The big secret is menopause is really amazing, because it’s the first time in my life that I’m not posed with

choices that are not my own. I think that menopause is [when] suddenly you’re given the option to make decisions not based on hormones, not based on the needs of other people, [and when] you

can finally put your own needs first. And it’s really a powerful realization [of] how much, as a woman, I’ve put other people’s needs first. … Now, it’s amazing how I’m faced with this

opportunity to find out what I want, which I think is the first time in most people’s lives that this happens. How has your comedy routine changed over the years? I think my comedy is much

more thoughtful. I’m more considerate about what I’m saying. Comedy has also shifted, and there’s a lot more diversity in comedy, which I really appreciate. Today, there’s a lot of Asian

American comedians, which is really exciting, and I’m grateful to see the difference.