Review: Susan Stewart, Relentless

Comedian turned HR employee turned public speaker turned motivational speaker/author/comedian Susan Stewart brings a newfound focus to her original discipline for Relentless. The result isn’t merely a return to roots type of affair, though, but an expansion on all of her experiences and expertise leading up to this particular show. Stewart’s observations can be biting, but they can also be thoughtful, or even a cutting and incisive mix of both.

There is one moment where the proceedings threaten to veer a bit too much into the motivational aspect of Stewart’s wheelhouse, but: 1. It’s earned. She’s talking very genuinely about her life in and out of comedy and what’s she’s learned from it; 2. It is almost immediately followed by an incredibly unsentimental assessment of the entire institution of parenthood.

The bulk of Stewart’s fodder is not uncommon terrain for both comedy and casual conversation. Social media’s weird but compelling. Adulthood is a letdown. The current state of self care is questionable. But her takes on these familiar topics are piercing. Sure, we all know that women are bad at accepting compliments and men are maybe too good at it. But she perfectly she nails the latter’s chest-puffing confidence.

Relentless was released March 6, 2020 on Howl & Roar Records.
Listen to it here