Episode 311

Actor / Writer / Comedian Anand Mahalingam Went from Lying on Futons to Stand-Up on Stages

On this week's episode of Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity, host & producer George Sirois sits down with actor, writer, and stand-up comic Anand Mahalingam. A college dropout who spent his first years in Los Angeles sleeping on friends' couches, Anand pushed himself to get on the stand-up comic stage and not only made a name for himself on the comedy circuit, but also as an actor who can be seen on For All Mankind and How I Met Your Father. He can also be seen as the lead actor in the short film Ronnie California: The King of Artesia. In addition to sharing his story about his various creative outlets, Anand & George also discuss the impact made by the fires in California, their thoughts on stand-up comedy, and much more.

Find out more about Anand by clicking HERE.

The Excelsior Journeys podcast exists primarily as a platform for creatives of all kinds (authors, filmmakers, stand-up comics, musicians, voice artists, painters, podcasters, etc) to share their journeys to personal success. It is very important to celebrate those voices as much as possible to not only provide encouragement to up-and-coming talent, but to say thank you to the established men & women for inspiring the current generation of artists.

If you agree that the Excelsior Journeys podcast serves a positive purpose and would like to show your appreciation, you can give back to the show by clicking HERE.

About the Podcast

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Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity
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About your host

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George Sirois

George Sirois is the author of the international bestselling young adult / science-fiction novel "Excelsior," its two sequels, and the science-fiction / sports trilogy "From Parts Unknown." He served as President of the Missouri Writers Guild from 2017-2018, and is the host and producer of the podcasts Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity and From Duck Till Dark: Outside the Marvel Studios. In 2023, George adapted his novel "Excelsior" into a feature-length audio drama, which was performed live on Clubhouse with a full cast of voice actors, a vast catalog of sound effects, and a stirring musical score.
George is also an audiobook narrator, lending his voice to over twenty books of all genres, and he is currently on the narrator rosters for Audio Sorceress and Encyclopocalypse Publications.
In 2025, George's short screenplay "Minus One Plus" won the award for Best SciFi Short at the 13th annual Austin Revolution Film Festival. The same year, Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity joined the Podmatch Podcast Network.
A New Yorker since birth, George now lives in St. Louis, Missouri with his wife and daughter. For more information, please visit www.hesgotit.com.