‘I like to bring joy’: B.C. man inspired by experience with disability uses comedy to entertain and empower

Adam meets a man who—drawing from his own experience with disability—is using comedy to entertain others and empower himself.

SAANICH, B.C. — Before you’d see Ari Kinarthy, you might hear others laughing.

“I’ve always been a funny guy,” Ari says with a smile.

Since he was a kid, Ari’s been coming up with comedy.

“I just love to make people laugh,” Ari says.

But if you weren’t a friend or family member, you might not know it.

“I get very nervous and self-conscious,” Ari admits.

Suffering from social anxiety was never an obstacle Ari had to overcome during his day job writing soundtracks for movies.

“(Music) is in the background,” Ari says. “You can just let the pictures and the actors take over.”

Ari kept his comedy in the background until he recently turned 37. It’s a birthday that doctors once told him he might not reach because he lives with a rare and debilitating disease that requires him to use a wheelchair.

“This year, I’ve had this feeling of, like, time is short,” Ari says. “Life is short.”

So, Ari summoned the courage to take a couple comedy classes, before facing his fear of performing his jokes publicly.

“How are you all doing tonight,” Ari asks the audience in a video from his first time doing stand-up. “I’m terrified.”

So, he began his set by simply being honest.

“I’ve never done this before,” Ari says. “But I thought what better way to combat my social anxiety than awkwardly sit in front of a bunch of strangers and try and make them laugh.”

The audience laughs. Ari smiles.

“Oh good, you’re alive,” Ari responds to the crowd. “That’s what I say to myself every morning.”

The audience laughs even louder, and Ari launches into a series of jokes making fun of himself.

“I’m the one who decides if I’m offended or not,” Ari explains about his material. “Not anyone else.”

After a lifetime of feeling like people walk on eggshells around him, Ari appreciates being roasted just like anybody.

“It feels like being included,” Ari says. “Like I have no differences.”

By the time he wrapped up his five-minute set, which inspired countless laughs, Ari says he felt accomplished, included, and confident to keep facing his fears.

“It was one of the most incredible moments ever,” Ari smiles. “It was wonderful.”

So, although Ari will never stop composing music, Ari will also start crafting more jokes to make people laugh.

“I like to bring joy through laughter.”