A Little Delusion & A Little Self-Doubt | Ian Lara on Going From Pre-Law to an HBO Comedy Special
Featured Guest:
Ian Lara
August 9, 2026
Ian joins Hella Latin@ for a conversation about growing up Dominican in Queens, navigating Afro-Latino identity, becoming a comedian, and learning to trust his own voice.
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Ian joins Hella Latin@ for a conversation about growing up Dominican in Queens, navigating Afro-Latino identity, becoming a comedian, and learning to trust his own voice.
From performing at the Comedy Cellar to appearing on The Tonight Show and eventually landing his HBO special, his journey is a reminder that sometimes not knowing how the story ends is exactly what allows you to keep going.
We talk about the discipline behind comedy, why making something look effortless usually means years of work, and the role of delusion and self-doubt in pursuing a creative career. He had me LAUGHING!
What to expect:
Breaking the "Latino comedian" box and creating from an honest place
Identity and Colorism within Dominican/Latino culture
The making of his HBO special Romantic Comedy
What Ian hopes to see for the next generation of Latino comedians
From performing at the Comedy Cellar to appearing on The Tonight Show and eventually landing his HBO special, his journey is a reminder that sometimes not knowing how the story ends is exactly what allows you to keep going.
We talk about the discipline behind comedy, why making something look effortless usually means years of work, and the role of delusion and self-doubt in pursuing a creative career. He had me LAUGHING!
What to expect:
Breaking the "Latino comedian" box and creating from an honest place
Identity and Colorism within Dominican/Latino culture
The making of his HBO special Romantic Comedy
What Ian hopes to see for the next generation of Latino comedians
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