Hannah Berner Opens Up About Her Comedy Special, Summer House and Acting Career

Hannah Berner’s rise to fame has followed an unusual path, from a short-lived effort to become a sports broadcaster to reality TV, podcasting, and now stand-up comedy. Before her time on Summer House and before building a large audience with Paige DeSorbo on the podcast Giggly Squad, Berner was already drawn to being on camera. She says she eventually realized that sports broadcasting would have meant dealing with sexism and having to prove her knowledge to men, which made that path unappealing.

Berner says her experience in comedy grew out of her earlier media work, including her writing job at Betches, which she described as a kind of joke-writing training ground. She also said leaving Summer House pushed her to succeed in stand-up, in part because she felt misunderstood and wanted to be heard on her own terms. Losing a job, she joked, gave her extra motivation to become so good at comedy that she would never need a boss again.

Her latest special, None of My Business, recently reached No. 1 on Hulu, adding to her growing profile. Berner said she hopes people understand the unconventional route that brought her here as she starts moving further into acting. She discussed working on a potential scripted series at Netflix with DeSorbo and producer Amy Poehler, calling the experience valuable and saying it feels like being in a master’s program with one of the greatest comedy figures.

Berner also spoke about how her audience has evolved. She said her live shows now attract more boyfriends and men than before, including hunters and other unexpected viewers. Rather than seeing that as a problem, she enjoys the mix of perspectives and the surprise that comes with different kinds of fans connecting with her material.

While she remains open to new opportunities, Berner said she would not want to return to reality TV in most forms. She described some appearances as time-consuming and draining, and said the drama-heavy environment is not one she wants to revisit. Still, she did not fully rule out every competition format, including The Traitors, which she said could be fun later in her career.

Berner said the renewed attention around Summer House has been mostly positive, though she prefers to stay away from the negativity that often surrounds reality TV. She keeps much of that muted and relies on friends for real updates. She also reflected on the demanding nature of reunion tapings, comparing the process to a battle of endurance.

In addition to comedy and TV, Berner discussed podcasting, saying she strongly supports the video format. She believes video has helped Giggly Squad grow by making the show more visual and more shareable through clips. She even joked about the downside of people watching podcasts while driving, saying it can create dangerous distractions.

Berner ended by talking about getting her driver’s license as an adult. She said anxiety made the process difficult and that therapy and daily affirmations helped her finally pass. For her, learning to drive became another personal milestone in a career built on reinvention, persistence, and a willingness to keep surprising people.