Rachel Arieff

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A., Rachel began her stand-up comedy career in Austin, Texas, in the 1990s.

Living in New York and Los Angeles, she performed alongside comics such as Zach Galafianakis, Maria Bamford, Mark Maron, Patton Oswalt, Dave Chappelle, and Judah Friedlander, among others. She also authored a CD of original comedic songs, titled "How to Be Happy All the Time".

In 2004 she moved to Barcelona, Spain. As an immigrant wanting to integrate into the culture of her new country, she avoided the burgeoning English-language comedy scene and expat bubble, and instead learned to perform in Spanish. Some of these stand-up comedy and cabaret shows were Cómo ser feliz todo el tiempo ("How to Be Happy All the Time"), Planeta Catalunya, Coñólogos, Flamenguiri perdía, and Sueños americanos.

Rachel has done standup in Spanish on Paramount Comedy as well as TV in the U.S., and had small roles in a few films.

She is also the creator and host of Anti-Karaoke, the karaoke rock party famous throughout Spain and other parts of Europe, which is in its 20th year in Barcelona and Madrid.

Rachel speaks Spanish, English, and Catalan and does stand-up comedy in all three languages. Each language inspires different themes, engages a different aspect of herself and has its own audience.

Rachel currently performs two hour-long Spanish-language stand-up comedy shows in Madrid: Anormala, a cabaret-style monologue, and Mi vida a la carta. She also has full-length show in Catalan, Catalunya triomfant.

During the pandemic, when all the theaters closed, Rachel became an online English teacher. Teaching English to kids and adults from all over the world was one of the most interesting and rewarding experiences of her life. She still does it because she loves connecting with people from all different cultures, helping them and learning about their world.

Rachel practices Goenka Vipassana meditation, which has changed her life for the better. She recommends this practice for nearly everyone.