Atlanta-based comedian Mike Albanese finds humor in the awkward moments of life

Mike Albanese is an Atlanta-based comedian. (Phil Provencio)

On the new “City Lights” series “Speaking of Comedy,” Atlanta’s funniest locals share insights on the perks and perils of their profession. Our inaugural conversation for the series features comedian Mike Albanese.

Fleeing home to Georgia after his love life went to shambles in Florida (“a shocker, to find out that somebody’s life wasn’t doing great in Florida,” Albanese says), he reached out to a friend in comedy and decided to try his hand in the field. Albanese says some of his most significant challenges in standup comedy come from himself.

“I’m my own worst enemy, my own worst critic,” said Albanese. “The world is open to anybody who wants to put anything out there; you don’t have to wait for somebody to do it for you. So it’s really just me, getting out of my own way.”