Emily V. Gordon

Emily V. Gordon – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Explore the life and work of Emily V. Gordon—American writer, producer, and podcast host. Discover her biography, achievements, philosophy, and memorable quotes that inspire relationships, creativity, and self-understanding.

Introduction

Emily V. Gordon (born May 3, 1979) is an American writer, producer, and podcast host, best known as the co-writer of The Big Sick, a romantic comedy film grounded in her own life. Her creative work spans memoir, screenwriting, comedy, and self-help. Through sharp insight, humor, and emotional honesty, she has reached audiences who resonate with her reflections on love, vulnerability, and personal growth. In this article, we explore her journey from counselor to storyteller, her influence on modern film and writing, and the lessons we can draw from her life and words.

Early Life and Family

Emily V. Gordon was born on May 3, 1979, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. From early on, she sought patterns in stories, relationships, and struggles—both internal and external.

Her family background, though not heavily publicized, was typical of many American households in smaller cities: supportive but imperfect, and in many ways a foundation for her later empathy in writing about human flaws. Her early years instilled in her a longing for connection and understanding, which would later become central themes in her work.

Youth and Education

From childhood, Gordon found solace in stories, pop culture, and expression. In interviews and quotes, she recalls relying on TV and fictional worlds to feel less isolated and connect with bigger worlds. Those imaginative realms offered her a lens through which to view identity, difference, and longing.

She pursued formal education in psychology and counseling. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from East Carolina University, then went on to complete a Master of Science (MS) and Education Specialist degree (EdS) in couples and family counseling at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her training as a therapist would later inform her insights on relationships, communication, and vulnerability.

Career and Achievements

From Counseling to Comedy & Writing

Emily Gordon began her professional life as a family and couples therapist, applying direct counseling in clinics across North Carolina, Chicago, and Brooklyn. While she practiced therapy, she nurtured her creative voice on the side—writing, producing, and immersing in comedy communities.

Eventually, she pivoted toward writing and producing. In New York and subsequently in Los Angeles, she collaborated on live shows, podcasts, and TV projects. The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail, a comedy live show that later became a TV series on Comedy Central, where she served as producer and booker. The Carmichael Show).

She co-hosted the podcast The Indoor Kids with her husband, Kumail Nanjiani, which combined video games, nerd culture, and personal insights. Staying In with Emily and Kumail, discussing quarantine life and domestic dynamics.

Super You

In 2015, Emily V. Gordon published her book Super You: Release Your Inner Superhero. The book is a self-help / personal growth work infused with humor and metaphor, encouraging readers to recognize and use their own “superpowers” (unique strengths) even in the face of fear, doubt, or adversity.

Many of her quotes—as seen on Goodreads—reflect this framing:

• “I often use comic books, video games, or other nerdy pop-culture references in my writing … it helps me understand the more complicated parts of the world a little more easily…”

• “Becoming the best version of yourself is useless if it only comes out when you’re alone … if you’re not able to hang on to your new identity at work, with friends, or on dates …”

These lines showcase her blend of vulnerability, self-awareness, and playful metaphor.

The Big Sick and Screen Success

The turning point in Emily Gordon’s public recognition came with The Big Sick, a feature film she co-wrote with her husband, Kumail Nanjiani.

The Big Sick premiered at Sundance in 2017 and became both a critical and commercial success. Gordon and Nanjiani were awarded the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay and were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, along with numerous other awards and nominations.

Beyond The Big Sick, Gordon has co-created or contributed to several TV and streaming projects. She is credited as a producer or writer on Crashing, Little America, and worked on adapting novels (e.g. The Nest) for film.

Her work stands at the intersection of memoir, humor, emotional honesty, and cultural commentary.

Historical Milestones & Context

While Emily V. Gordon is a contemporary figure rather than someone from a distant historical era, her career intersects with important cultural shifts:

• She belongs to a generation of writers and creators who draw from personal narratives and lived experience to fuel storytelling (especially in film and streaming).

• The Big Sick was lauded for its candid portrayal of illness, interracial relationships, cross-cultural challenges, and the blending of comedy and pathos—fitting into a broader trend of “comedy with heart/depth.”

• Her role as a female writer-producer navigating both Hollywood and independent film spheres places her in a lineage of women pushing for voices beyond traditional stereotypes.

Her work contributes to the ongoing shift in which stories of illness, identity, and vulnerability are treated not as marginal but as central to the human experience.

Legacy and Influence

Though she is still active, Emily V. Gordon’s impact is already felt in several ways:

1. Bridging Therapy & Storytelling
   Her background as a therapist gives her writing emotional nuance: she writes not from idealism but from someone who understands fear, miscommunication, and psychological complexity. This blend improves authenticity in relationship and conflict scenes.

2. Vulnerability in Mainstream Media
   She models that it’s acceptable to include sadness, confusion, illness, and awkwardness in stories about love or comedy. She helps widen the genre of romantic or comedic storytelling to include struggle.

3. Inspirational for Aspiring Writers
   Many emerging writers see in her a path: using personal experience (not just imaginative escapism), embracing one’s weirdness, and persisting despite hurdles.

4. Cultural Dialogue
   Her work invites dialogues around mental health, cross-cultural relationships, illness and caregiving, boundaries, and healing. She offers insight as both a creator and someone who has lived through dramatic personal crisis.

5. Quotes and Thought Leadership
   Her memorable lines are often shared on social media, in therapy contexts, and among communities focused on relationships and self-growth. Her voice resonates for people trying to reconcile expectations with reality.

Personality and Talents

Emily V. Gordon is often described (in her interviews and writings) as introspective, honest, witty, and empathetic. She does not shy from revealing her insecurities or past mistakes. She is the sort of writer who sees humor and poignancy in ordinary life.

Her talents include:

• Emotional insight: She grasps and expresses the raw, messy edges of relational life.

• Metaphor and narrative framing: Her use of “superpowers,” pop culture, and playful analogy helps readers and viewers re-frame difficult truths.

• Synthesis of genres: She moves fluidly between memoir, self-help, screenwriting, and comedy, combining them.

• Courage: She has openly written about illness, identity, and relational pain—areas many shy away from.

Those qualities make her both a relatable and aspirational figure.

Famous Quotes of Emily V. Gordon

Here are selected quotes that reflect her mindset, voice, and lessons. (Cited with sources.)

“Betrayal can be extremely painful, but it’s up to you how much that pain damages you permanently.” “Cheating is very rarely about the actual act of being with another person.” “We all have an idea of how we like to be treated that we would like others to adhere to … the perfect person for us will just know what this code of behavior is.” “Your life story is a gift, and it should be treated as such.” “Awkward conversations are painful, but they’re way easier than divorce, resentment, and heartbreak.”

From Super You / Goodreads:

“I often use comic books, video games, or other nerdy pop-culture references in my writing; it helps me understand the more complicated parts of the world a little more easily …” “Becoming the best version of yourself is useless if it only comes out when you’re alone … if you’re not able to hang on to your new identity at work, with friends, or on dates …” “I used to jokingly dismiss my superpowers, and I treated my weaknesses as dark secrets to hide at all costs. … our superpowers are the unique things that make us best qualified to live our lives …” “I have learned this important lesson: no one really knows what he or she is doing. … The difference between the people who go for it …? They just ignore the fact that they don’t know what they’re doing.”

These quotes show her emphasis on self-awareness, relational honesty, and the courage to risk.

Lessons from Emily V. Gordon

1. Your personal struggle can become art
   Gordon turned a terrifying illness and near-death experience into a powerful, funny, galvanizing film (The Big Sick) that resonated with many. She shows that vulnerability can fuel universal narrative.

2. Honesty matters more than perfection
   Her writing often embraces awkwardness, failure, and contradiction rather than polished heroic arcs. Real life is messy, and truth is compelling.

3. Embrace your “superpowers” (flaws included)
   In Super You, she argues that our quirks, sensitivities, even weaknesses are part of what makes us capable. The trick is not to eliminate them but to navigate with them.

4. Communication as a discipline
   She repeatedly returns to the idea that many relationship breakdowns stem from unspoken expectations, ambiguous boundaries, or reluctance to have the hard conversation. That’s a call to speak openly, early, and often.

5. Courage in art is a gift to others
   By putting her life and emotions into her work, she offers others permission—and vocabulary—to wrestle with their own inner lives.

Conclusion

Emily V. Gordon stands as a modern exemplar of how vulnerability, humor, and authenticity can shape art that connects. From her roots in counseling to writing Oscar-nominated screenplays, she bridges the internal world of emotions with external forms of storytelling. Her voice challenges us to speak our truths, lean into discomfort, and reimagine our “stories” as gifts.

If you’re moved by her journey and words, I encourage you to read Super You, watch The Big Sick, and revisit her quotes when facing tough conversations or creative blocks. And above all: let your life story be honored—not hidden.