Holly Rizzuto Palker is the founder and producer of the stand-up comedy troupe The Mom Coms, and the podcast The Mom Coms Standup and Stories.
A longtime writer and journalist, Palker said storytelling has always been at the core of her work. She has published essays and reported pieces across national outlets and served as an editor at Literary Mama. She said her background and storytelling — often blending humor with more serious themes — naturally evolved into comedy.
“I’ve always noticed my writing had a humorous component, even when I was writing about serious things,” she said.
Her professional path to stand-up took shape in 2024, when she attended the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop and entered its “Erma’s Got Talent” stand-up contest. She placed as a runner-up, earning a spot to perform live. She then competed in the national Ladies of Laughter competition at the South Orange Performing Arts Center in New Jersey, where she connected with the network of comedians who would later help shape The Mom Coms.
“I’ve met super-talented women in the humor community,” Palker said. “By attending comedy events, conferences and other shows, my network continues to widen. I try to recruit talent whom I’ve met or seen perform. This way, we all feel connected.”