Comedy and performance can teach us how to be authentic in a world full of roles and expectations. In this talk, Anto Kriston shares his journey from theatre stages to stand-up comedy, blending humor with cultural insight. He shows how storytelling and performance help people connect with their truest selves. His message inspires audiences to embrace authenticity with humor, humility, and heart. Anto Kriston is a Kannada stand-up comic, micro social media influencer, and research scholar whose journey bridges academia, performance, and storytelling. A native of Mysore with an MA in Mass Communication and Journalism, Anto is currently pursuing a Ph.D. focused on the ethnographic study of Kannada stand-up comedy—an art form he passionately researches and performs. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx