Hey, I’m Tim Barnes, you are the genre, and in this episode I’m chatting with actor/comedian Brandi Denise. She’s performed on THE TONIGHT SHOW, acted in the POWER series, and now voices the role of the bailiff in my new scripted audio series JUDGE TRAVIS. Before that role, we likely bumped into each other at some point in the Chicago comedy scene. It’s a testament to her clarity of voice as a performer that when it came time to start casting the bailiff role, she was immediately on my list.

When we spoke for this interview near the end of 2025, I was excited to learn more about her path as a comedian and star on the rise. Also, check out her Hulu special!

Hope you enjoy!

-Tim

Brandi Denise is an actress and comedian known for her standout roles on Power, Power Book II: Ghost, and BET’s Games People Play. She rose to viral fame with her unforgettable guest appearance on Abbott Elementary, sparking widespread buzz for her performance.

A 2022 Just For Laughs New Face, Brandi has been featured on BET’s ComicView and was named one of Vulture’s 2024 “Comics You Should and Will Know.” Her Comedy Central feature hit over a million views in 2022, adding to a growing list of viral moments. With over 350,000 followers, she’s built a loyal fanbase across both screen and stage.

Her debut comedy special is now streaming on Hulu, presented by Kevin Hart’s LOL Live series—cementing Brandi as a powerful voice in comedy and culture.

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CREDITS:

Host: Tim Barnes

Guest: Brandi Denise

Theme Song: “You Are The Genre” by Freddie Nunez

Music Engineer: Adam Smith

Podcast Art: Madhuri Shukla