How Ilana Glazer Found Power in Personal Storytelling

25 Jul '25

By The Shift

Image by Sela Shiloni

25 Jul '25

By The Shift

Image by Sela Shiloni

The Shift highlights women’s stories through the lens of impact. It hopes to contextualize history and inspire action.

Ilana Glazer is an actor, comedian, writer, and co-creator of Broad City, known for her bold, irreverent voice. She blends activism with comedy, using her work to challenge norms and amplify issues from reproductive rights to social justice.

The Shift:

What is one defining moment in your career or life that empowered you to create change, and how has it shaped the path you’re on today?

Ilana:

This question makes me think of moments when I shifted my gaze from outward to inward. For example, in my early days of comedy, collaborating with Abbi Jacobson, we were brainstorming what we could write about for a web series. And we realized it was simple: us. We could write about our dynamic. I think of my co-founder of Generator Collective, Glennis Meagher, as we searched for political messaging that resonated with us, and we realized we had the power to create it. These small shifts set me on a distinct, new path.

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Ilana Glazer is honored as part of The Shift’s “90 Plus One” list, which recognizes influential women shaping contemporary culture. With Gloria Steinem featured on the inaugural print cover, the list pays homage to her 91 years of activism by highlighting a powerhouse community of women shifting culture.