Shane Mauss

Shane Mauss is an American stand-up comedian , science communicator, and podcast host renowned for his style of cerebral absurdism that blends personal storytelling , psychology , and psychedelic themes. Originally from La Crosse, Wisconsin , he moved to Boston in 2004 to pursue comedy full-time after working in a factory and forgoing college. His career gained early momentum with a win for Best Stand-Up at the 2007 HBO U.S. Comedy Arts Festival, where his offbeat material about everyday absurdities, such as pessimistic bumper stickers, stood out.

Mauss broke into national television with appearances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien (three times in the late 2000s), Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2010, and multiple sets on Conan starting in 2013, often delivering deadpan routines on topics like immigration and relationships. He earned his own half-hour special, Comedy Central Presents: Shane Mauss , in 2010, followed by contributions to Netflix's This Is Not Happening and an appearance in the Epix series Unprotected Sets . In 2019, he created and hosted the Comedy Central series Tales from the Trip , featuring comedians recounting psychedelic experiences with animated recreations. That same year, he starred in the Amazon Prime documentary Psychonautics: A Comic's Exploration of Psychedelics , chronicling his journeys with substances to explore consciousness.

Transitioning into science communication, Mauss has hosted the podcast Here We Are since 2016, interviewing over 400 scientists on topics from biology to cosmology, often tying insights to his comedy . He launched a second podcast, InShanely Curious , in recent years, delving into evolutionary biology and the tree of life . Mauss continues to tour extensively, with immersive shows like his 2022 Las Vegas residency at Area15 and a 170-city tour in 2023, culminating in the two-part special Trips —filmed with 360° visuals at Meow Wolf —set for release in fall 2025.

Shane Mauss was born on May 25, 1980, in Onalaska, Wisconsin . He grew up in the nearby small town of La Crosse, in a working-class environment typical of rural Wisconsin .

Mauss is of German and Irish descent, with distant Jewish ancestry; his forebears in 17th-century Switzerland used the Hebrew name "Mosche" before changing it to Mauss upon relocating to France, where Jews faced restrictions on land ownership. During his teenage years and early adulthood, he worked third-shift jobs at local factories, including Ashley Furniture, which provided a grounded, blue-collar perspective on life in the Midwest.

Mauss's childhood in this conservative, small-town setting fostered a contrarian streak, encouraging him to challenge norms and explore unconventional ideas. Humor emerged as a key outlet for connection, particularly with his father, whose laughter at Mauss's jokes strengthened their bond and hinted at his budding comedic talent.

As a young adult, Shane Mauss grappled with significant anxiety that delayed his entry into stand-up comedy , despite harboring the ambition since childhood. Growing up in a small town in Wisconsin , he first decided to pursue comedy around age 9 or 10, inspired by a friend's description of the profession while playing video games, and began writing jokes by age 15. However, fears of relocating to a major city like New York or Los Angeles , coupled with financial uncertainties, led him to postpone his dream after high school graduation in 1998. Instead, he spent the next five years in a factory job he despised, much of his earnings going toward partying, which further exacerbated his internal struggles.

This period of stagnation culminated in a turning point on his 23rd birthday in May 2003, when Mauss confronted the reality that he had not taken any steps toward his lifelong goal. Recognizing he was trapped in an unfulfilling routine, he made a resolute decision: it was " comedy or bust," committing fully to stand-up as the pivotal change he needed to escape his circumstances.