When I sat down with Baltimore’s own Jess Hilarious for a special episode of Be More Positive, I knew we would talk about comedy, career and her upcoming hometown shows. What stood out most, however, was how deeply Baltimore and family remain woven into who she is.

Jess returns home to perform at the Baltimore Comedy Factory September 10–13, and naturally, I had to ask what coming back to the city feels like. From grabbing a classic Baltimore chicken box to stopping for a cheesesteak from Mike’s on North Avenue, her hometown traditions are still very much part of the experience.

For Jess, West Baltimore is more than home. It helped shape her humor, resilience and ability to navigate the entertainment industry. Growing up around her older brother and his friends taught her the art of “cracking” on people, Baltimore’s version of roasting, and helped sharpen the comedic instincts audiences know today.

Her career-changing moment also happened right here at home. Jess knew comedy was truly her calling after opening for Martin Lawrence at the former Royal Farms Arena.

“I did 10 minutes in front of 13,000 people,” she said. “In that moment specifically, that’s where I was like, ‘My life is about to change, and this is where I belong.’”

Since then, Jess has expanded far beyond stand-up. She is an actress, voice actress, media personality, podcast host, influencer and author of ’Til Death Do We Parent, her co-parenting memoir. Yet two of her most important roles happen far away from the spotlight: being a wife and a mom.

That became especially clear when I asked what was bringing her the most joy in this season of her life. Before she even finished answering, her entire expression changed.

“Being with my husband and my children,” she said.

The moment she said “my husband,” her face absolutely lit up. Her smile widened, her energy softened and for a second, the comedian and public personality faded into the background. What came forward was simply a woman deeply in love with the life she has built at home.

She spoke with the same tenderness about motherhood, especially her daughter Marley, who she said “disarms” and softens her. Hearing Jess describe herself as a “big teddy bear” with her daughter revealed a side of her that audiences may not always see onstage.

That love of home and family also connects to how Jess approaches growth.

“I never changed. I evolved,” she told me.

That may have been my favorite takeaway from our conversation. Growth does not have to mean losing the pieces of yourself that made people connect with you in the first place.

Her advice to Baltimore creatives reflected that same message: “Don’t change your accent.” Jess encouraged aspiring talent to remain professional without erasing what makes them uniquely Baltimore.

After our conversation, one thing was clear to me: Jess Hilarious may belong to a much larger audience now, but Baltimore and the family she has built, remain at the heart of her foundation.

Baltimore can welcome Jess home at the Baltimore Comedy Factory September 10–13.  Tickets are available at JessHilariousOfficial.com and BaltimoreComedyFactory.com

Catch the full coversation on the latest episode of the Be More Positive podcast.