Ashton Chowning Interview Essay College Composition and Research November 8, 2016 Comedian Jeff Binney For many, an average day is spent behind a computer screen, reading papers, stocking shelves, or performing a check-up. For Jeff Binney, this involves a daily adventure for conquering a dream. Binney’s life story as a comedian includes his journey, challenges, experiences and success that help him overcome the struggle of losing his mother.
Binney grew up on a pig farm in Missouri, being an inactive, class clown, whose mother was his biggest supporter. Binney stated, “I was always the chubby kid. I was accidently active because I grew up on a farm, so I was always outside.” While in school he tried playing sports but they were not for him. Since he did not participate in sports, theater played a major roll: “I think that since I was a little kid I have always been the class clown, I have always been a little outgoing.” When he graduated from Trenton High School, he attended Missouri State for musical theater and studied abroad in London for one semester. Also, being the son of a pig farmer, Binney decided to become a vegan, but a more reasonable one due to the fact he knows the farmer’s struggles: “In some ways, our farmers are setup to fail in some regards because they don't have policies to raise our food.” When Binney returned from London, he was burnt out after two-and-a-half years of the same play, so he took a stand-up class. Binney said, “The first time I did stand-up I was absolutely in love… I was responsible for everything… When I bombed a show there was no one to blame but myself.” With the spirit of his mother by his side, he decided to change his passion from theater to comedy.
When his mother died from obesity, Binney realized that he would have the same fate if he did not change, so he took the challenge of the Leadville 100. Instead of just simply working out, Binney decided to compete in the Leadville 100, which is a non-stop, 100-mile race. Not only did he want to run the race, but he decided to make a film out of his experience. Training for months with one of the few people to complete the Leadville 100, Binney was determined to run for his mom. Binney said, “Training. In both capacities. It takes a certain kind of person to get to where everything hurts, your body is literally falling apart. You really have to have solid reasons to want to do this. If you run for a couple more hours your feet stop hurting; something new starts hurting, but your feet stop hurting.” During the race, there are eight stations the runner must get to by a certain time. Most races also allow a pacer at the 50-mile mark, but he could not get anyone to run with him besides his camera crew. Binney ran for 43 miles, which is 12 hours, only to be pulled out of the race for missing the cutoff time by minutes. Binney said about the race, “You know I was on the top of this mountain and there aren’t many people up there and it's just so surreal.” Although Binney had many challenges, he gained many experiences through the course of time.
Binney called out his inner adventurous child and quit his job to follow his dreams because losing his mother taught him that life is too short to wait. Binney stated,“I think so many people have so many things that they want to do… if there’s anything I learned from losing my mom at a young age is that if there’s something you want to do, do it right now… I think that first step is so hard for some people” Binney learned many lessons and projects from losing his mother. Up to this point, all the challenges he has conquered has been for his mom. He recalls his mom telling him: “Nobody else can make fun of you for something if you make fun of yourself first.” This statement from his mother is what gives him expiration for his jokes. Focusing on experiences or opinions to write about, Binney makes his jokes personal. Making a comedy show real and involved can be a risky move, but taking risk is nothing new for Binney.
Through the loss of his mother, Binney’s perspective on success changed from being an average office worker to being a man seeking the adventure he longed for as a child. Binney went to London to try to satiate his need for adventure, but when he got back he realized one thing: “I got back to New York and just wasn’t happy with what I was doing. Constantly working to be a part of other people’s projects.” He wanted to have the worth ethic of his father, but with his own passion. Binney started out as a theater major so when he talks about the success he said, “Don’t be married to what you think you want right now, don’t be hooked on that one thing forever. Don’t be afraid for things to change. Don’t feel like you have to do anything you won’t want to do.” People have all of their lives to find out what they want to do for a career. When they decide on a career, the career needs to be something they enjoy, and if it's not, they need to be capable of changing that career.
When Jeff Binney lost his mother his point of view on his journeys, challenges, experiences, and success changed drastically. From being the vegan son of a pig farmer, to running the Leadville 100, to creating the first half documentary, half standup film, he has conquered all the challenges. Many people would give up on life when they lose a parent, but Binney was able to do the unimaginable with his mother looking over him.