Voted Best Standup in The Chicago Reader’s 3 years in a row, and named one of Time Out’s Comics To Watch in 2025, Deanna Ortiz is the host of the podcast ‘Crushes!’, The Signal Award Winning audio series ‘It’s Crime For Bed’ on Hatch+, and The Drunk Cooking Show on Instagram. She has worked as a contributing writer for NPR’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, and her standup has been featured in Vulture, WGN News, FOX Good Day Chicago, and TimeOut Chicago.

Over the years, she has become a fixture in the Chicago comedy scene, performing regularly at The Laugh Factory, Zanies, and the Lincoln Lodge (where she’s been part of the cast since 2016). Her comedic voice blends narrative storytelling, sharp observational humor, and vulnerability. Deanna tackles topics such as dating, daily awkwardness, and self‑doubt in a way that feels like she’s talking with the audience, not at them.

Deanna continues performing across Chicago and beyond, headlining shows, collaborating on creative content, and expanding her voice in podcasting and writing.