Julian Shapiro-Barnum

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Julian Shapiro-Barnum
Born1999 (age 26) [1] [2]
Education Boston University (BFA)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
Years active2020–present [1]
Notable credit Recess Therapy (2021–present)
Parent(s)5, including Sophia Z. Lee and Lorin Sklamberg

Julian Shapiro-Barnum (born 1999) is an American actor and comedian, known for creating and hosting the web series Recess Therapy , in which he interviews children playing outside in New York City. [3] [4] In 2023, he was included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the social media category. [5]

Shapiro-Barnum grew up in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia with five parents: his biological mother, her ex-wife, his biological father, his husband, and a stepmother. [6] [7] Two of his parents are Sophia Z. Lee, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and Lorin Sklamberg, lead singer of the Klezmatics. [1] He is Jewish. [8] He attended the Boston University College of Fine Arts where he majored in acting, graduating in 2021 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. [6] [1] The idea for Recess Therapy originated as part of Shapiro-Barnum's thesis project, and the series was eventually launched in April 2021 on YouTube in partnership with Doing Things Media. [3] [9] Many clips from the series have gone viral, including an interview with Corn Kid, and the series has featured guests such as Michelle Obama, Amy Poehler, and Charli XCX. [2] [4]

In 2022, Shapiro-Barnum was presented with the Family Entertainment Safe Streaming Hero Award at the inaugural Family Entertainment Awards Dinner by Variety and Kidoodle.TV. [10] The following year, he won two Webby Awards, in the categories of Viral Video and Best Creator, Personality or Host. [11] Shapiro-Barnum is also the creator and executive producer of Celebrity Substitute, alongside Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The web series, which features celebrities as substitute teachers in an elementary school classroom, launched in October 2024 on YouTube. [4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Berk, Brett (February 11, 2022). "In Search of the Meaning of Life? Meet Me at the Monkey Bars". The New York Times . Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Isenberg, Meara (September 11, 2022). "How 'Corn Kid' Went Viral With One Short Interview". CNET . Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  3. 1 2 Moscufo, Michela (September 17, 2022). "'Recess Therapy' highlights kids' candid comments". ABC News . Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 Jackson, Angelique (October 21, 2024). "Florence Pugh, Andrew Garfield, Lisa and Jordan Chiles to Appear on 'Celebrity Substitute'". Variety . Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Julian Shapiro-Barnum". Forbes . Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Holt, Steve (October 11, 2022). "Heading to the Playground for Some Recess Therapy". CFA. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  7. ↑ Laskowski, Amy (May 28, 2020). "When Life Gives You a Pandemic, Make a Sitcom". BU Today . Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  8. ↑ New York Jewish Week Staff (May 16, 2023). "Julian Shapiro-Barnum, 23, YouTube star". Jewish Telegraphic Agency . Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  9. ↑ Hornbuckle, Sio (July 13, 2022). "Recess Therapy's Julian Shapiro Barnum Believes in the Power of Play". Kinship. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  10. ↑ Cinkala, Whitney (November 22, 2022). "Pixar's Pete Docter, Raven-Symoné, LeVar Burton, 'SpongeBob SquarePants' to Be Honored at Inaugural Variety Family Entertainment Awards". Variety . Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Julian Shapiro-Barnum - Recess Therapy". Webby Awards . Retrieved September 24, 2025.
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