Mawaan Rizwan; comedian, actor and music extraordinaire.You may know him from his stand-up which led to his hit BBC show, Juice, his viral hits that have been all over the internet and his unforgettable appearance on Taskmaster. In this episode we discuss Mawaan's childhood where failure was not an option, growing up in a world of content creation and can you be mentally healthy and still do comedySupport The Podcast at Patreon.com/ComComPod✅ Full video and ad-free audio episodes✅ Over 27 minutes of EXTRAS with Mawaan✅ Exclusive guest announcements and podcast updates  ✅ New membership offerings inc a monthly “Stu&A” which is a Q&A with me, but with a fun title.Catch Up with Mawaan:To keep up to date with Mawaan, @mawaanr on Instagram and Twitter. You can watch all episodes of Juice on BBC iPlayer.Everything Stu's up to:See me live at the Leicester Comedy Festival in February 2024: www.comedy-festival.co.uk/performances/stuart-goldsmith-spoilers.See me also at the Machynlleth Comedy Festival in May 2024: machcomedyfest.co.uk/show/2024/stuart-goldsmith-spoilers.Discover Stu’s comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at www.stuartgoldsmith.com/climate.Find everything else you need at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list at: www.comedianscomedian.comStu also offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Susie McCabe continues to be one of the fastest selling acts at the Glasgow international comedy festival, with multiple Scottish comedy awards under her belt.In this episode, we discuss Susie's meteoric rise in comedy, what it means to be "emphatically Glaswegian" and embracing the fear of failure.Support the Podcast:Join the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders where you can:Watch the full video version of this episodeGet access to ad-free audio episodesOver 16 minutes of extras from Susie McCabe (plus the back catalogue!)Exclusive guest announcements and a monthly Stu-and-A with me!Catch Up with Susie:To keep up to date with Susie, @susiemccabecomic on Instagram.See her live show at the Kings Theatre in Glasgow on the 15th and 16th March 2024, find out more at susiemccabe.com.Everything Stu's up to:See me live at the Leicester Comedy Festival in February 2024: www.comedy-festival.co.uk/performances/stuart-goldsmith-spoilers.Discover Stu’s comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at www.stuartgoldsmith.com/climate.Find everything else you need at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list at: www.comedianscomedian.comStu also offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second part of this special episode, we explore the development journey of James' latest show, Hecklers Welcome, the false idea of a perfect audience and dealing with the inner-crisis of being a comedian.I also put your questions to James, where we talk all things Ghostbusters, Bo Burnham and *that* Oscars moment.Visit www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more including the full video version of this episode - PLUS get exclusive Insiders Q&As AND the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Connell.Catch Up with James:IG/Twitter: @offmenuofficialwww.jamesacaster.comEverything Stu's up to:See me live at the Leicester Comedy Festival in February 2024: www.comedy-festival.co.uk/performances/stuart-goldsmith-spoilers.Discover Stu’s comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at www.stuartgoldsmith.com/climate“The funny side of climate change (no, really!)” - The TimesFind everything else you need at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list at:www.comedianscomedian.comStu also offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He probably needs no introduction if you’re listening to this pod, James Acaster returns again! In the first half of this two part special, we discuss embarking around the country with the Off Menu live tour, developing the phenomenally successful format for television, and why that might not be the best thing.We also delve into James’ self-produced podcast series, Springleaf, what success looks like and the forbidden topic of money…Want to watch the whole special episode in full now? Join the Insiders Club!Visit www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more including the full video version of this episode - PLUS get exclusive Insiders Q&As AND the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Connell.Catch Up with James:IG/Twitter: @offmenuofficialwww.jamesacaster.comEverything Stu's up to:See me live at the Leicester Comedy Festival in February 2024: www.comedy-festival.co.uk/performances/stuart-goldsmith-spoilers.Discover Stu’s comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at www.stuartgoldsmith.com/climate“The funny side of climate change (no, really!)” - The TimesFind everything else you need at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list at:www.comedianscomedian.comStu also offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

443 - Harriet DyerA whirlwind of wonderfully authentic absurdity, Harriet Dyer is a comic treasure. In this candid conversation, we discuss how she unexpectedly found her true calling, paving the way for “Trigger Warning”, a deeply powerful show rooted in the horrors committed against her and the lack of available help, which she nonetheless navigates with sensitivity, warmth and humour.We also talk about the addictive nature of comedy, its impact on personal happiness, and whether one can find contentment regardless of gig outcomes. As an advocate for mental health, Harriet opens up about her role in running "Barking Tales" and the impact of neurodiversity on her comedic authenticity.Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more including a special video version of this exact episode (but don’t know why I’m telling you that now!) - PLUS get exclusive Insiders Q&As AND the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Connell.Catch Up with Harriet:IG: @harrietdyercomedywww.harrietdyer.com/Watch Trigger Warning for free right now!www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKczZtezGysEverything Stu's up to:Discover Stu’s comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at www.stuartgoldsmith.com/climate“The funny side of climate change (no, really!)” - The TimesFind everything else you need at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list at:www.comedianscomedian.comStu also offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I catch up with Iliza Shlesinger, an award-winning comedian, actor, writer, producer, and author with *six* Netflix specials under her belt!We discuss merging silliness with opinionated social commentary within her new show, Hot Forever, which comes to London next month, the "gauntlet" of working within the showbiz world and performing across the world to people of different political beliefs.20 mins of extras available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club, this includes us talking about being a successful comedian on a feature film set as well as managing friendships while having an incredible work ethic and being a parent. Catch up with Iliza:See Iliza on tour with "Hard Feelings” including London's Eventim Apollo on the 6th and 8th December 2023! Tickets and more info at iliza.com.IG & TikTok: @ilizasTwitter: @ilizaEverything Stu's up to:I'm LIVE at the Soho Theatre, London from Wed 29 Nov to Sat 2 Dec 23! Remaining tickets: sohotheatre.com/events/stuart-goldsmith-spoilers.Discover Stu’s comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at www.stuartgoldsmith.com/climate“The funny side of climate change (no, really!)” - The TimesFind everything else you need at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list at:www.comedianscomedian.comStu also offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s drive, and then there’s Sikisa! Interrupting her holiday for this interview, we meet an amazing comic with a superhuman work ethic; working as an immigration lawyer, then filling her life with shows and part time work leaving her 4 hours a night to sleep.We talk about self-care, how to manage multiple shows a day at the Edinburgh Fringe, why hosting a show is like throwing a party, and why she can still feel like a failure in the middle of an ascendant career…Extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club include Sikisa on her experiences teaching at Soho Theatre, and her new wrestling podcast!Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including exclusive Insiders Q&As plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch Up with Sikisa:TW/IG: @Sikisacomedywww.sikisacomedy.comEverything Stu's up to:Discover Stu’s comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at www.stuartgoldsmith.com/climate“The funny side of climate change (no, really!)” - The TimesFind everything else you need at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list at:www.comedianscomedian.comStu also offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Very fulfilled as an unfulfilled comedian”, the hilarious Alistair Barrie isn’t lacking in comedy chops. We talk about his forthcoming tour “Woke In Progress”, as well as the clash between the need for approval and a persona that denies needing approval.We discover his public school upbringing and the abandonment issues that forged his resilience, the experience of being of a generation that resists putting content out if it isn’t excellent, and his relationship with humility…30 mins of extras available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club include Alistair on sage advice for thriving at corporate gigs, worst deaths and strategies to survive them, and what happened when he played both Labour and Conservative party conferences…Catch up with AlistairSee Alistair on tour in “Woke In Progress”, with dates and ticket links atwww.alistairbarrie.comAnd find his food blog at www.foodponce.comTW/IG/TIK: @AlistairBarrieFB/YouTube/Blue Sky: AlistairBarriewww.alistairbarrie.comEverything Stu's up to:Discover Stu’s comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at www.stuartgoldsmith.com/climate“The funny side of climate change (no, really!)” - The TimesFind everything else you need at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list at:www.comedianscomedian.comStu also offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1987, Jeff Shaw decided he was going to do comedy for a living. He meant it.With shades of “The Story Of Anvil”, this interview follows a man who has picked himself up and started again over four decades, each time achieving a version of his dream, and surviving the paradigm shifts that have accompanied his every decade in the US comedy industry.With tens of thousands of shows under his belt, and still chasing his dream, Jeff lays out his career as a standup, a comedy writer, and a Carnival Cruise comedy show director, before he found stand-up again, all the while displaying limitless hope, humility and gratitude…Extras include an Insider’s guide to what works and what doesn’t on a cruise ship comedy gig, from his unique perspective of both act and booker…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including exclusive Insiders Q&As plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Jeff:www.comedianjeffshaw.comTW/IG: @jeffthefundudeEverything Stu's up to:Discover Stu’s comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at www.stuartgoldsmith.com/climate“The funny side of climate change (no, really!)” - The TimesFind everything else you need at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list at:www.comedianscomedian.comStu also offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is a splash of pure sunshine, with the veteran of 1000 full-length improvised musicals in Olivier Award-winning “Showstopper!”, Ruth Bratt. She’s a supernaturally brilliant improviser and a sparkling human being, who is a) ambitiously lazy and b) feeds off the carrion of her own heart.We talk about her work with some of the biggest names in her craft; entering a waking dream state during 50-hour long improv marathon shows; getting down to the last two for Dobby in “Peep Show”; and the big choice that won her a role in “People Just Do Nothing”.30mins of extras exclusively available to members of the Insiders Club include a fascinating dissection of insider impro/v terms, including “shelving”, “deepening”, “edits, taps and swipes” as well as the “circle of ideas”, not to mention Ruth’s experiences of the “horror” of early standup…Catch up with Ruth:www.curtisbrown.co.uk/client/ruth-brattTW: @ruthbrattIG: @brattbombEverything Stu's up to:Discover Stu’s comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at www.stuartgoldsmith.com/climate“The funny side of climate change (no, really!)” - The TimesFind everything else you need at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list at:www.comedianscomedian.comStu also offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nearly 12 years since his first appearance way back in episode 6, Adam Bloom joins us to celebrate the publication of his book “Finding Your Comic Genius” - an absolute treasure trove of his original and deeply technical comedy writing techniques. We talk about how his writing for and with huge comedians and celebrities over the years has honed his ability not just to write perfect punchlines, but also to share his knowledge with warmth and clarity.It’s destined to be on every comedian’s bookshelf worldwide, and in this episode he shares some examples of its secrets including "balls and cubes", "see-saws", "balloon-pops" and much much more!No extras from this one, you’ve got the whole lot, but check out the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including exclusive Insiders Q&As plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch Up With Adam:Immediately go here and buy this book!https://www.amazon.co.uk/Finding-Your-Comic-Genius-depth/dp/B0CGWWWZPMTW: @adambloomie2IG: @adambloomcomedyEverything Stu's up to:Discover Stu’s comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at www.stuartgoldsmith.com/climate“The funny side of climate change (no, really!)” -The TimesFind live dates as well as podcast community links, social media handles and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel, all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:www.comedianscomedian.comStu also offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Co-host of The Dollop podcast and a superb comic and improviser, Gareth Reynolds is touring the UK right now! In this gold-standard episode we talk about his improv characterisation, the history of his collaboration with Dave Anthony, and how taking “The Dollop Pill” has gradually changed everything he thought he knew about America.We also get into the “robust mental health triumvirate” of improv, sports analogies and regular income, and explore his YouTube series “Ga’riffs”, in which he heroically improvised stand-up on previously-unseen audience suggestions to camera, alone in the room.25 mins of unmissable extras available only to the Insiders Club include Gareth going deeper on the techniques and structures he employs while riffing, and exploring the fertile parallels between theatre sports, improv on-stage and crowd-work.Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including exclusive Insiders Q&As plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch Up With Gareth:Get moving! Gareth is on tour with dates all over the UK from 13th-24thwww.garethreynolds.com/eventsDon’t miss his new podcast with movie actor Jake Johnson “We’re Here To Help” www.audioboom.com/channels/5113355-we-re-here-to-helpAnd become addicted to The Dollop at www.dolloppodcast.comEverything Stu's up to:Find live dates as well as podcast community links, social media handles and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel, all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nish Kumar is one of the most powerful and provocative voices in British stand-up comedy, and his debut special “Your Power, Your Control” is streaming now on Sky On Demand & Now TV, for those in the UK & Ireland.  He returns to the podcast to talk in depth about the creative process behind the writing of that show, the inciting incident in which a bread roll was thrown at him at a charity gig, and how that led to a media frenzy, terrifying death threats, and ultimately a total re-evaluation of his mental health.We talk about making serious things funny, and the phenomenal rise of The Mash report, as well as “Birbiglifying”, “Frankensteining”, and phantom pooping…23mins of extras exclusively available to members of the Insiders Club include Nish on his therapy journey, writing topical stuff for The Mash Report, and the rollercoaster of creating a stand-up show, from first scribblings to the marathon of the Fringe.Catch up with Nish:Nish’s first stand up special is streaming NOW on Sky On Demand & Now TV for those in the UK & Ireland.
TW/IG: @MrNishKumarwww.nishkumar.co.ukEverything Stu's up to:Find live dates as well as podcast community links, social media handles and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel, all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most recognised for her role on Meet the Richardson’s, writer and creator of To Hull and Back (BBR4) and co-writer on C4’s Hullraisers, Lucy Beaumont is about to embark on her 2023 stand up tour. Despite her massive success, she feels like she’s only just getting started. We discuss her honest and frank writing style and processes – both in writing for herself whether it be stage or TV and for other characters – who come through to her via dead peoples’ spirits. We also delve into her love/hate relationship with stand-up and the prejudice and misogyny she experienced early on in her career, leading her to take a hiatus from performing. Living much of her life on screen, she explains how she feels more prepared than ever to step back on the stage and she gives us some interesting insights into her next steps and future goals.   15 mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club including Lucy’s experience with ADHD and the impact it’s had on her career, a cracking tip about how to think about jokes, and how she’s preparing for her tour Catch up with Lucy:Tickets for Lucy’s 2023 tour ‘The Trouble and Strife’ here:https://lucybeaumont.co.uk/home#live TW: @LucyABeaumontIG: @the_one_from_hullEverything Stu's up to:Stu’s new Edfringe show “Spoilers” (WINNER Best Show 2023, Leicester Comedy Festival, woo!) is on sale now - find preview dates as well as podcast community links, social media handles and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel, all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trigger warning: Discussion of child sexual abuse.Jonny Pelham has become one of the most disarmingly hilarious comics in the UK by building his punchlines on a bedrock of unflinching honesty. There’s a big difference between the comedy cliche of “saying the unsayable”, and being able to find the humanity and authenticity in a subject that people don’t want to talk about. We talk about his new Edinburgh Fringe show “Optimism Over Despair”, and he leads us through the experience at that show’s core: his reflections over using his set on Live At The Apollo to discuss the sexual abuse he experienced as a child. We also learn about his clinical “maladaptive daydreaming”, and what it’s like to always come with a trigger warning.20mins of *double trigger-warning* extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club include Jonny on a joke that he’s always found too dark to make work, but which says something very important about his experiences; how he makes the personal political; and how to make biographical work what you want it to be in the face of algorithmic soup!Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including exclusive Insiders Q&As plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Jonny:https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/jonny-pelham-optimism-over-despairwww.jonnypelham.comTW/IG: @jonny_pelhamEverything Stu's up to:Stu’s new Edfringe show “Spoilers” (WINNER Best Show 2023, Leicester Comedy Festival, woo!) is ON SALE NOW atwww.stuartgoldsmith.com/ticketsAnd find preview dates as well as podcast community links, social media handles and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel, all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We finally got him! Mike Birbiglia arrives in Edinburgh for the first time this August with his smash hit new stand-up/story show “The Old Man And The Pool” and shows us why he's 'Broadway’s greatest comic storyteller' (Deadline).We talk about the minutiae of his creative process, from the rhythms of his jokes and his deft use of implication, to the glue between bits, and a walkthrough of his “process guy” process, and find out why he’s only beholden to the owner of the circus…30 unmissable mins of extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club include a fascinating study of the application of Jimmy Carr’s brain to a Mike Birbiglia bit; the codification of the language in his shows; how to chisel away the possibilities that aren’t part of this particular statue; and how to get the best feedback out of Daniel Kitson.Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including exclusive Insiders Q&As plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet. Catch up with Mike:DO NOT MISS Mike’s incredible new show “The Old Man And The Pool”Aug 22-27 Underbelly Bristo Square, EdinburghSept 12 - Oct 7 at The Wyndham’s Theatre, Londonwww.birbigs.comIG/TW: @birbigsEverything Stu's up to:Stu’s new Edfringe show “Spoilers” (WINNER Best Show 2023, Leicester Comedy Festival, woo!) is ON SALE NOW atwww.stuartgoldsmith.com/ticketsAnd find preview dates as well as podcast community links, social media handles and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel, all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“I’m just a creative for an ad agency, and the only product is me…”Gianmarco Soresi is a phenomenally driven, hard-working comic whose ambition and social media savvy might rankle, if he wasn’t so utterly funny.  We talk about growing up a theatre kid and what he had to let go of to become a comic, his need to be witnessed, and his adoration of “mathematically beautiful” jokes, including his love for the one-liners of Anthony Jeselnik and Rodney Dangerfield.20 mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club includes unmissable technical detail, as Gianmarco analyses the finer points of his online content strategy, and the differences between working the room and working the clip. We also talk about how he synthesises short jokes into longer routines and vice versa….Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including exclusive Insiders Q&As plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet. Catch up with Gianmarco:www.gianmarcosoresi.com for all your info and a frighteningly high-definition pic of Gianmarco welcoming you to his site…www.youtube.com/gianmarcosoresiTW/IG: @gianmarcosoresiEverything Stu's up to:Stu’s new Edfringe show “Spoilers” (WINNER Best Show 2023, Leicester Comedy Festival, woo!) is on sale now - find preview dates as well as podcast community links, social media handles and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel, all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members."Outstanding and offered profound insight into how to survive these turbulent times."- Deloitte Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the North East’s best-kept comedy secrets, Lee Kyle is a dimpled diamond with a twinkly warmth and bucket-loads of swearing. We talk about focusing on multiple projects and thriving in chaos - plus the downsides of ADHD, and how he wrestles with self-doubt and demotivation. We also discover the origins of NE comedy co-operative incubator “Felt Nowt”, and why the first minute of Lee’s set is purposefully a write-off.20 mins of extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club, Stu asks the most inappropriate question he’s ever asked, and we discuss the content of Lee’s excellent special “Disco Twix” as he wrestles with gender identity with his unique gentleness. We also discover why 2002 was a great time to be a mediocre comedian, how his mentality has changed regarding sending emails to promoters, and he also sings Stu a song while Stu goes for a wee, which is the mark of a classy guest.Catch up with Lee:Lee Kyle’s new show “England’s Best Comedian” is on sale now for his run at the Edinburgh Fringe: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/lee-kyle-england-s-best-comedianwww.imleekyle.comTW: @imleekylewww.youtube.com/user/leekylespresenceEverything Stu's up to:Stu’s new Edfringe show “Spoilers” (WINNER Best Show 2023, Leicester Comedy Festival, woo!) is on sale now - find preview dates as well as podcast community links, social media handles and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel, all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Master of miscellany, Neil Delamere has a huge presence in his home country of Ireland and across the UK, boasting a style of comedy where every single second is packed full of laughs. We talk about the difference between a good comic and a great comic; the type of comedy that piques Neil’s interests; and why he thinks storytelling is the purest, and most powerful, form of entertainment. We also learn how he combats the writing process of a tour show vs an Edinburgh Fringe hour; including the content and the title, and the all important ending. 12 minutes of extra content available exclusively to the Insider’s Club include Neil’s tricks of the trades for TV appearances, writing topical jokes under pressure, and a great tip on how to trust yourself as a comic…Catch up with Neil:IG: @neildelamerecomedyTikTok & TW: @neildelamerewww.neildelamere.comNeil is performing his latest stand-up show ‘Neil By Mouth’ at the SSE Arena Belfast in February 2024 and tickets are available now. Everything Stu's up to:Stu’s new Edfringe show “Spoilers” (WINNER Best Show 2023, Leicester Comedy Festival, woo!) is on sale now - find preview dates as well as podcast community links, social media handles and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel, all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ingenious stand-up, actor and impressionist James Adomian’s impact is truly global, with his voice appearing on a hundred cartoons and a thousand podcasts - making him "a famous person no-one knows”.Delving deep into his character performance and how he chooses who to impersonate, James lets us in on his love for Aristophanes and his processes of tackling intelligent and academic subjects, in voices ranging from US Presidents to Slovenian philosophers, all whilst maintaining mainstream appeal. We also discuss audience reactions to James being gay and how not fitting into the gay ‘template’ has helped shape his stand-up sets, and get POD-JACKED BY EDDIE PEPITONE NO LESS. Catch up with James:Listen to his re-relased hit album ‘Low Hangin’ Fruit’ here: https://800pgr.lnk.to/LowHanginFruit IG: @jadomianhttps://jamesadomian.com/Everything Stu's up to:Stu’s new Edfringe show “Spoilers” (WINNER Best Show 2023, Leicester Comedy Festival, woo!) is on sale now - find preview dates as well as podcast community links, social media handles and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel, all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ignacio Lopez is an ascendant comic currently selling out his national tour due to a combination of talent, strategy, and sheer determination.We talk about his enjoyment of playing high status and the pitfalls associated with that, about him flying alone as a child between families and countries, and how he used comedy as a social cheat-code. We also explore comedy as a separate language, and the different dialects and fluency that we all employ…20mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club include Ignacio on neurodiversity, and the hyper-focus that means he can’t put down a book before finishing it, as well as how he parlayed his viral Rhianna parody song into the core of a social media strategy.Catch up with Ignacio:On tour later in 2023 with his new show “Nine Ig Fails”, tickets via www.comedylopez.comTW/IG/TIK: @comedylopezEverything Stu's up to:Stu’s new Edfringe show “Spoilers” (WINNER Best Show 2023, Leicester Comedy Festival, woo!) is on sale now - find preview dates as well as podcast community links, social media handles and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel, all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emma Willmann is a New York killer comic, with a big online presence and a completely magnetic angle on gender and sexuality. We talk here about her unique origins with a schoolteacher who let her get up and perform if she managed to focus throughout the class; as well as covering hyperfocus, ADHD and stopping taking the pills, and the comfort in relating to finding a process.  All of this plus the systems she’s created for coping with her busy brain, an obsession with comedy book-learning, and some really insider stuff on social media processes - you love to hear it!Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including exclusive Insiders Q&As plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Emma:Tiktok & TW: @iamemmawillmannIG: @EmmaWillmannwww.iamemmawillmann.comEverything Stu's up to:Stu’s new Edfringe show “Spoilers” (WINNER Best Show 2023, Leicester Comedy Festival, woo!) is on sale now - find preview dates as well as podcast community links, social media handles and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel, all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hilarious comic Steve Agee is known to many as John Economos in “The Suicide Squad”, and Steve from The Sarah Silverman Programme, as well as being the bearer of the most satisfying narrative arc in the insanely funny “Peacemaker” (HBO Max). He talks with us live at South By Southwest about being part of the James Gunn Cinematic Universe, and the panic attacks that ruled his life and meant he had to warn employers in advance about his propensity for walking away and never coming back.We also talk about being sent to military academy as a child, his compulsive emetophobia, and how Gunn’s loyalty saved him after a savage pandemic experience in which he lost his mother.Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including exclusive Insiders Q&As plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Steve:TW: @steveageeSeriously, don’t miss Steve in Peacemaker (HBO Max)Steve’s brilliant photography is on Instagram @steveageewww.ageephotography.comEverything Stu's up to:Stu’s new Edfringe show “Spoilers” (WINNER Best Show 2023, Leicester Comedy Festival, woo!) is on sale now - find preview dates as well as podcast community links, social media handles and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel, all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a truly horrible year, John Hastings has came swinging with yet another blockbuster  fringe show, working through the passing of his dear friend, the much loved comedy director Paul Byrne, not to mention a divorce and a wince-inducing bike crash.We talk about John’s move from the UK circuit to Los Angeles, and discuss the finer details of what it means to participate in several different global markets; also the bad behaviour he’s experienced at the hands of certain [REDACTED] promoters. We go on to talk about the cost of doing business, the downside of reps, and John’s impressive social media video output and strategy…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including exclusive Insiders Q&As plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with John:John’s new Edfringe show is on sale now!https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/john-hastings-the-times-they-are-a-john-hastingsVisit www.thejohnhastings.com for the unbelievable approach to promo shots if nothing else…TW/IG: @thejohnhastingsEverything Stu's up to:Stu’s new Edfringe show “Spoilers” (WINNER Best Show 2023, Leicester Comedy Festival, woo!) is on sale now - find preview dates as well as podcast community links, social media handles and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel, all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Launching her new show “Legacy” at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival right now, Michelle Brasier completes a trilogy of heartfelt, philosophical and very funny one-woman shows about loss and forgiveness, which includes the multi-award winning “Average Bear”.We talk about her work with purveyors of sketch carnage Aunty Donna, and discover why drama school rejects have all the fun. We also discuss her secret fears that she’s doing some kind of TEDTalk and can’t write proper jokes; about main character syndrome and the “fraud cycle”; and why people will be commenting “one of the boys!” under everything she ever puts out, for the rest of her life…15mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club include Michelle on her interaction with strangers after the powerful energy that suffuses “Average Bear”, and how she safeguards herself in such intimate connections, and her unique perspective on clowning, chaos, and exactly what makes the Aunty Donna boys such special little guys…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for all this, plus ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and more!Catch Up With Michelle:TW/IG @michellebraiserwww.michellebraiser.comSee Michelle at Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane comedy festivals over the next few months:www.michellebrasier.com/tourEverything Stu's up toStu’s new Edfringe show “Spoilers” (nominated for Best Show, Leicester Comedy Festival 2023) is on sale soon - find preview dates as well as podcast community links, social media handles and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel, all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“I did Instagram Live for 2 years straight, for 5-6 hours a day”Tub-thumping powerhouse Godfrey has been in the game for the best part of three decades and yet still radiates happiness and positivity. We talk about his phenomenal work ethic and drive; being the first English-speaking comedian to gig in Russia; why someone this happy needs to do comedy; and the business dimension to comedy where his confidence sometimes fails him…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more!Catch up with Godfrey:TW: @godfreycomedianIG: @comediangodfreywww.youtube.com/c/GodfreyComedyEverything Stu's up to:Podcast community links, social media handles and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel are all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Is there any more depth to you, or are you just jokes?"…So went The Honourable Tom Houghton’s experience with Netflix influencer/reality show “The Circle”, and we get right into that here! We also discuss his ballistic comedy style, the social media strategy that has seen him accrue over 10M likes across Tiktok and Instagram, and his truly harrowing relationship with his boarding school.We also discover his relationship with improv group The Noise Next Door and how it persists despite him leaving, and encounter a lifelong journey to master sincerity in his work…25 mins of extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club include Tom exploring the relationship between his initial Posh Guy positioning and his most authentic comedy self; how he was called out by friends on his more obnoxious behaviour; and some excellent tips on social media mindset and work ethic.Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.And submit your unmissable moments of ComComPod at www.comedianscomedian.com/unmissableCatch up with Tom Houghton:Catch Tom on his sell-out tour with extra dates added as speak!www.honourabletom.com/pages/tourwww.honourabletom.comTwitter/Instagram/Tiktok: @honourabletomEverything Stu's up to:Stu’s new stand-up special “I Need You Alive” is available online video and audio on demand via www.stuartgoldsmith.comPodcast community, links to comedy clips on Instagram and Tiktok, and Stu’s official YouTube channel are all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list to stay friends forever at:www.comedianscomedian.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer, Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Instinctive, irrepressible, and with an inimitable aversion to bullshit, today we revisit Fern Brady's 2016 nascent dalliance with success, mere moments before catapulting herself headlong into the comedy stratosphere...Catch up with Fern via:fernbradycomedian.com@fernfrombathgate@FernBradyGo to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and (this episode's very own!) Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.And submit your unmissable moments of ComComPod at www.comedianscomedian.com/unmissableStu's new comedy special "I Need You Alive" is available to watch on Amazon Prime, The 800lb Gorilla website, and you can listen at loads of other places - go to stuartgoldsmith.com and hit the exciting yellow button to find all the links!"Podcast community links, social media and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel are all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer, Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Truly a global comedian, Vir Das has five Netflix specials to his name, and his latest “Landing” is an exceptional piece of work, relating the story of a plane journey at the end of which he faces arrest for bringing his country’s name into disrepute.We talk about his beginnings in Bollywood; the difference a background in acting makes to a comics’ approach to authenticity; removing the middlemen between oneself and one’s audience; and why he doesn’t have the luxury of cynicism…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.And submit your unmissable moments of ComComPod at www.comedianscomedian.com/unmissableCatch up with Vir Das:www.virdas.inTW @thevirdasIG @virdasAnd most of www.netflix.comEverything Stu's up to:Stu’s new stand-up special “I Need You Alive” is available online from 23rd Feb at:https://www.moment.co/stuartgoldsmith/stuartgoldsmith-i-need-you-alivePodcast community links, social media and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel are all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer, Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fresh from the ComCompendium annals we rediscover the indomitable Gina Yashere. An engineer in a previous life, and a comic tour de force in this one, Gina's boldness and clarity of mind saw her draft up a plan: simply selling up her life in the UK and moseying over to the ol' USA.We examine Gina's annoyance at being the 'diversity' on panel shows, point the finger firmly in the direction of The Patriarchy, and discuss the myriad of pitfalls involved with plunging oneself headlong into starting afresh elsewhere.Everything Stu's up to:Podcast community links, social media handles and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel are all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr visit:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we heave open the ComCom vault door and revisit this episode with the outspoken moral arbiter of stand-up Stewart Lee.As principled as they come – punitively politically correct, and forever eschewing the same limelight in which other contemporaries love to bathe – we ponder the lengths to which he is willing to go in order to gleefully burn bridges. We also discuss what the autumn of his career might have in store, and explore how the righteousness of his onstage persona forbids any apologies... just how heavy is the head that wears the crown Comedy Police helmet? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dusted down, and fresh from the archives, today we re-welcome the wry cynicism of the nation’s favourite chubby svelte vegan Romesh Ranganathan.Fearless on stage, yet his own biggest critic off it, we discuss his stratospheric – and largely unplanned – comic success. We place parenthood under the microscope, revise his former vocations as teacher and rapper, before discovering that stolen jokes fuelled his first ever gig... a 1987 Pontins talent show.Stu's new comedy special "I Need You Alive" has a worldwide digital premiere on Feb 23rd, see the trailer and find the ticket link at www.stuartgoldsmith.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s trip down memory lane, the ever effervescent Shaparak Khorsandi leads the way – with a quick stop off at Comedy’s figurative playground – via her own yellow brick road. We dissect second chances, shifting statuses, and how the pursuit of money stunts artistic quality...Candid, nuanced, and not lacking in poise, Shaparak opens up on the difficult situations to which her early standup inexperience subjected her, and the realisation of how bullying is ultimately rooted in jealousy.Stu's new comedy special "I Need You Alive" has a worldwide digital premiere on Feb 23rd, see the trailer and find the ticket link at www.stuartgoldsmith.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we swing wide the comcom vault door and crack open a vintage 2012 with the indefatigable Sarah Millican.We talk about her unbound positivity, the necessity to jettison pre-gig baggage, and managing her - as well as the audience’s - expectations. We also delve into Millican’s Law, Thermos pasta, and men’s proclivity to urinate in hotel kettles.Stu's new comedy special "I Need You Alive" has a worldwide digital premiere on Feb 23rd, see the trailer and find the ticket link at www.stuartgoldsmith.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A re-release of the 2013 live episode with a very young and sprightly James Acaster, on the responsibility of the comic to their crowd, sabotaging gigs and answering audience questions on slacks...www.jamesacaster.comStu's new comedy special "I Need You Alive" has a worldwide digital premiere on Feb 23rd, see the trailer and find the ticket link at www.stuartgoldsmith.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite his alt roots, barnstorming Kurt Braunohler straddles comedy scenes like a Colossus! We talk about his lifelong and very inventive quest to “insert absurdity into strangers' lives to make the world a better place”, choreographing randomness, and drawing inspiration from Kurt Vonnegut and Eugene Mirman.We also dive into how his glorious new show ”Perfectly Stupid” represents an emotional maturity that sidesteps schmaltziness…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.And submit your unmissable moments of ComComPod at www.comedianscomedian.com/unmissableCatch up with Kurt:And watch his superb new special “Perfectly Stupid” at www.kurtbraunohler.comwww.facebook.com/kurt.braunohlerTW: @kurtbraunohlerIG: @kurtbraunohlerEverything Stu's up to:Podcast community links, social media handles and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel are all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Keyworth is a seriously funny comedian, and has a succinct and uncomplicated way of showing it. In this very thoughtful interview, they talk about the point where being saddened by other peoples’ reality meets the irresistible pull of activism. We also explore their creative partnership with the late, great Paul Byrne; and why they’d love to have a pint with JK Rowling…20 mins of extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club include what happened when Sarah’s therapist found out they were doing material about them, and we also learn why they’re a little old man at heart…And submit your unmissable moments of ComComPod at www.comedianscomedian.com/unmissableCatch Up With Sarah:On their national tour in Nov, Feb and March, which culminates in a huge show at The Bloomsbury Theatre on 19th March - tickets available now via www.sarahkeyworth.co.uk/gigsIG: @sarah_keyworthTW: @sarahkcomedyEverything Stu's up to:Podcast community links, social media handles and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel are all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr visit:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Skilfully navigating territory of misogyny and a clash between lad culture and woke lads, Esther Manito’s recent show “#NotAllMen” burst at the seams with relatable material rooted in the clash between her Middle Eastern heritage and her Essex upbringing.Esther talks here about whether you can be too relatable; having children before comedy and musing on an agent’s misguided warning that no-one wants a ”comedy mum”; and growing up in Essex at the time of the Gulf War, with anti-Arab rhetoric prevalent in her school15mins of extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club include more from Esther on her generalised anxiety disorder, and the worst gig of her life!Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Esther:www.esthermanito.co.ukTW: @esther_manitoIG: @esthermanitoEverything Stu's up to:Podcast community linksSocial media handles and comedy clipsAnd Stu’s official YouTube channel…Are all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr visit:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedy machine-gun Glenn Moore smashed Edinburgh again this year with a show in which every word and breath serviced his phenomenal joke-rate. Thrill, as you discover how he’s driven to this prodigious comedy output by an almost pathological fear of being told off by an audience for not trying hard enough!We revisit his earliest shows, speculate as to what drives him to apply a much sterner standard to himself than anyone else, and find out what it means to him that “Mock The Week” has concluded…20mins of extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club include how many notes Glenn has on his app in the run up to Edinburgh (clue, it’s more than a thousand!) , we talk paradigm-shifts in comedy, and he shares with us some of his recent bad ideas. Also Stu is forced into quite an embarrassing admission - unless he’s chickened out and cut that bit by the time this is released…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Glenn on tour now!Glenn is on tour right now and into the start of 2023, find out more at www.glennmoorecomedy.com/liveTW: @TheNewsAtGlennIG: @glennrogermooreEverything Stu's up toPodcast community linksSocial media handles and comedy clipsAnd Stu’s official YouTube channel…Are all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr visit:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Socialist, feminist, lesbian, protest singer” Grace Petrie made her first foray into “official” standupdom this year with a phenomenal Edinburgh debut, in which as well as skewering transphobes and bigots, she managed to extend genuine empathy towards them - all while being very, very funny.As well as talking about her comedy origins as a support act for Josie Long and Robin Ince and her work with The Guilty Feminist podcast, we discover the peace she’s made with her impostor syndrome, and get deeply involved in the responsibility she feels to look inside herself and to not deny people their feelings.22mins of extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club include Grace on how she maintains her activism in the face of criticism and despair, and we learn the transferable skills between writing a protest song and a standup routine…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Everything Stu's up toPodcast community linksSocial media handles and comedy clipsAnd Stu’s official YouTube channel…Are all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr visit:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This year comedy dynamo Lauren Pattison received a Best Show nomination to add to her Best Newcomer, with her show “It Is What It Is”, which detailed how she was among the first comedians to move home and proudly take up a day job during the pandemic.We talk about her relentless work ethic; class structures in comedy; and why she there’s no shame in supplementing your comedy income. We also discuss her anxious core beliefs, running for the CALM charity, and find out how a podcast took the place of therapy in her life.20 mins of extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club include Lauren on how she copes with her anxiety over making eye contact, and what she wants the audience to think of her as they leave, as well as her approach to social media clips and people patronising her, plus the income stream that’s done wonders for her self-confidence!Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Lauren:www.lauren-pattison.comTW: @LaurenPattisonIG: @Lauren_PattisonAnd don’t miss Lauren Pattison touring in October and November, then live at Soho Theatre from Weds 7-Sat 10 December!www.sohotheatre.com/shows/lauren-pattison-it-is-what-it-is/Everything Stu's up to:Podcast community linksSocial media handles and comedy clipsAnd Stu’s official YouTube channel…Are all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr visit:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Exploding supernova Jordan Gray has just had the Edinburgh that every newer act dreams of: five-star reviews across the board, sell-out shows, a transfer to the Palladium, as well as being made an honorary X-Man by Sir Ian McKellen. She’s an extraordinarily funny, talented and skilled act who’s managed to pull an absolute Minchin!We talk about the danger of believing your own hype, why she has to be an example not just a comedian, and we get an intimate snapshot of the very early stages of the sorts of hard choices that await someone experiencing this kind of success…25mins of extras available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club include Jordan on her music career as “Tall Dark Friend”, the most heartbreaking thing to hear after a gig, and she takes Stu to task on his skittishness! We also get an incredibly useful breakdown of the transferable skills a comic can bring to script writing, and find out why she wears a jump-suit and why she very deliberately isn’t “fabulous”…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Jordan:http://JordanGrayLive.co.ukTW/IG: @talldarkfriendDon’t miss Jordan live at the London Palladium on 28th October!Everything Stu's up to:Podcast community linksSocial media handles and comedy clipsAnd Stu’s official YouTube channel…Are all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr visit:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everyone’s favourite “clown in a gown”, Bianca Del Rio is an unstoppable onslaught of insult comedy, swathed in haute couture, and concealing an absolute gem in the form of Roy Haylock, who talks to Stu out of makeup and only occasionally in character…Currently in the middle of a colossal tour, which drops into the Edinburgh Fringe this week, we talk about the unique crucible of combative performance circumstances that created her; how her surprising attitude to the RuPaul’s Drag Race interviews helped her shine; and how to “eliminate fuckery”. Plus: the secret benefit to doing meet & greets (it’s not the money!), and an astonishing claim not to spend any time at all writing her huge tour shows…Experience Bianca Del Rio live at the Edinburgh Fringe from 18th Aug!https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/bianca-del-rio-unsanitizedAnd find all the tour info you need at:www.thebiancadelrio.comTW/IG: @thebiancadelrioPhoto credit Matt CrockettEverything Stu's up toFind links to:Stu’s show at Edinburgh Fringe: Monkey Barrel, 13:25 (4-11th only)Podcast community linksSocial media handles and comedy clipsAnd his official YouTube channel…All via:linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr visit his sites:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Musical Theatre Comedy star, YouTube pioneer and Stu’s one-time wrestling partner, Jenny Bede is off to the Edinburgh Fringe with her new baby in tow, for her show “The First Pregnant Woman In The World”.  We talk about the potential downside of being a triple threat; how she coped with awful musical theatre auditions; her recent ADHD diagnosis and how she learned to stop apologising and do an impression of having swagger…We also explore her early work creating comedy songs on YouTube, how she hit the dizzy heights and why she decided to pull the plug…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Jenny Bede:Jenny’s Edinburgh Fringe show is called “The First Pregnant Woman In The World” and it’s on at 18:55 daily at Underbelly Bristo Square:https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/jenny-bede-the-first-pregnant-woman-in-the-worldTW/IG: @JennyBedewww.jennybede.co.ukEverything Stu's up toFind links to:Stu’s show at Edinburgh Fringe: Monkey Barrel, 13:25 (4-11th only)Podcast community linksSocial media handles and comedy clipsAnd his official YouTube channel…All via:linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr visit his sites:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A uniquely nuanced voice in comedy, the riotously imaginative Tom Ward balances gleeful absorption in the creative process and robustly-managed mental health. Destined to become a fan favourite, this episode sees Tom sensitively exploring: why comics with certainty make him suspicious; his internal landscape and how he copes with the non-triggered meltdowns occasioned by his Complex PTSD; and how his careful devotion to doing one thing at a time impacts his creativity.He also uses a burner phone so he can’t get distracted whilst writing… •chef’s kiss•25 mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club includes Tom on the therapeutic value of comedy for good or ill; how his stolen Casio beats keep his ambiguity accessible; and the shared desire to write “a joke so good that he doesn’t die alone”.Catch up with Tom:www.tomwardvoice.comIG: @tomwardcomedianwww.facebook.com/tomwardcomedianTom Ward: Anthem plays at Monkey Barrel at The Edinburgh Fringe from 3-28th Aug 2022 @22.25https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/tom-ward-anthemEverything Stu's up toFind links to:Stu’s show at Edinburgh Fringe: Monkey Barrel, 13:25 (4-11th only)Podcast community linksSocial media handles and comedy clipsAnd his official YouTube channel…All via:linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmithOr visit his sites:www.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Barnstorming breakthrough-in-waiting, Sean McLoughlin is extremely adept at big chunky stand-up with an interesting moral core. We outline his journey from an angry young man who either needed “a hug or a slap”, through the transformative effects of both being onstage and getting proper therapy, to a towering performer with gigs at the Palladium, Sydney Opera House and the Royal Albert Hall under his belt.  We also discover his conscious effort to maintain eye contact; how he became more reliable to bookers; and whether tall people come across as angry when they’re just animated…25 mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club includes Sean’s reaction to sharing a name with one of the most famous people on the internet; and advice for comics starting tour support, which Sean has done at the highest level, from Sydney Opera House to the Royal Albert Hall, in service of comics like Bill Burr, Katherine Ryan and Ricky Gervais.Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Sean McLoughlin:Edinburgh Fringe: Pleasance Beneath, 19:55https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/sean-mcloughlin-so-be-itPodcast “Failing Better” with Jonny Pelham: @failingpodwww.seanmcloughlincomedy.comTW: @seanmcloughlinIG: @seanmcloughlincomedyEverything Stu's up to:Edinburgh Fringe: Monkey Barrel, 13:25 (4-11th only) https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/stuart-goldsmith-a-shared-illusion-wipThis podcast is @ComComPod on Twitterwww.comedianscomedian.comIG and Tik: @stuartgoldsmithcomedyFind out everything Stu’s up to at www.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sharp as a tack and with a scientific bent that underpins her charming demeanour, Ria Lina is experiencing a TV-takeover career breakthrough.  We talk about the different preparation required for Mock The Week, Have I Got News For You and QI; why the fact that a comedy career has no end point is so addictive; and how the recent increase in diversity on the circuit gave her an insight into embracing a more distinct character.With degrees in virology, pathology and forensics, we also learn more than you might expect about bodies washing up on shores, and ask Ria to turn her scientific mind to analysis of how to save the circuit…25 mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club include some excellent advice to newer comics, and an investigation of which social media platforms suit which characters - and some brief thoughts on the implied consent of audience interaction videos going viral…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Ria Lina:www.rialina.comTW/IG: @rialina_www.tiktok.com/@rialinaofficialwww.facebook.com/rialinaEverything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on Twitterwww.comedianscomedian.comIG and Tik: @stuartgoldsmithcomedyFind out everything Stu’s up to at www.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tremendous story-teller comedian Alison Spittle is a very sunny specialist in making comedy from trauma, but you’ll be furious that she’s had to undergo so much of it. We talk about her incredible new Edinburgh show “Wet”, and why it’s no longer simply about a fight during an aqua aerobics class.  We also cover her excellent shame-beating podcast “Wheel of Misfortune”; the challenge of keeping oneself emotionally secure when making comedy out of pain; and how to be powerful.25 mins of extras available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club include Alison on her earliest material that made her feel like herself; the journey of her expressing her mental health honestly; the importance or not of doing “reps” in comedy; and the non-comedy-related quality that got her where she is…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Alison Spittle:www.alisonspittle.comIG/TW: @alisonspittleWheel of Misfortune podcast: https://pod.link/1525520717See Alison live in Leicester and London:http://alisonspittle.com/gigs See “Wet” at the Edinburgh Fringe:https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/alison-spittle-wetEverything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on Twitterwww.comedianscomedian.comIG and Tik: @stuartgoldsmithcomedyFind out everything Stu’s up to at www.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amy Miller is an explosive club act, wielding real depth and texture as well as her “resting dustbowl face”, to polarise audiences who either love her, or hate her and can’t figure out why.We get into the relative merits of US and UK gag rate; employing and avoiding comedy tropes about appearance; bullying tall men; how the circuit is changing; and why she’s still being advised by female comics not to talk about her age…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Amy Miller:TW: @amymillerIG: @amymillercomedywww.amymillercomedy.comEverything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on TwitterStandup clips on IG and TikTok: @stuartgoldsmithcomedyFind out everything Stu’s up to at www.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Groupwww.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The comic creation of comedian and illustrator Derek Chickpeas, “Olaf Falafel” is an absolute combine-harvester of inspirationally daft ideas; hoovering them up and blasting them out across multiple creative outputs.We talk about “Olaf Falafel’s Art Club”, “Old MacDonald Heard A Parp”, “One Giant Leek” and plenty of other projects including “The Pearl With The Girl Earring” and a load of other stuff he unsurprisingly doesn’t have time to properly leverage…. We also discuss his penchant for over-delivering; his uniquely brilliant Edinburgh Fringe flyer designs; how to prioritise a million projects; as well as how he manages to stay one of the happiest creatives who’ve ever graced this podcast.Over half an hour of extras available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club include an exploration of his copycat-inspiring success on Vine (and the relief he felt at its collapse); further investigation of his effervescent comedy mind; and why he probably won’t illustrate your kids’ book idea…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Olaf Falafel:http://www.olaffalafel.com/TW: @OFalafelIG: @olaffalafelTik: @olaffalafelEverything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on Twitterwww.comedianscomedian.comIG and Tik: @stuartgoldsmithcomedyFind out everything Stu’s up to at www.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CW: Self-harm"Basic plus" (because she’s self-aware), brilliant Helen Bauer is probably the most self-actualised comedian and human we’ve had on the show.  Her punchy gags and insightful premises are all imbued with an absolute tsunami of personality, flirting with us one minute and roaring the next. And she even seems to have accepted her longterm depression…We talk about her Apollo-conquering debut; how she acutely weaponises elements from her real life that might seem like hindrances; and basing your personality around a scrunchie.15 deeply painful minutes of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club includes a conversation about “cringe”. (I mean honestly, even if you’re an Insider, just skip this bit - there’s nothing for you here), and some lovely stuff about her podcasting co-hosts Rosie Jones and Catherine Bohart.Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Helen Bauer:Helen and Catherine Bohart’s podcast is “Trusty Hogs”, discover it at https://pod.link/1587488188www.helenbauer.co.ukIG and TW: @helenbabauerEverything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on Twitterwww.comedianscomedian.comClips of Stu’s standup that prove he is good despite how vulnerable he deliberately makes himself in interviews for YOUR benefit can be found on IG and Tiktok: @stuartgoldsmithcomedy#cringeFind out everything Stu’s up to at www.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With his dishevelled appearance and wild energy, you might not be surprised to learn that the wonderfully funny Bobby Mair has had “more therapists than girlfriends”.  We talk about his Canadian comedy work ethic, the trick of making the audience your friend, and find out why bad gigs in the UK are still good.We delve into his origins, starting comedy coincidentally during a traumatic and grief-stricken phase in his life; find out what a relief it was after 16 years to write an observational joke that didn’t derive from trauma; and discover why comedy didn’t save Bobby’s life.20 mins of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club includes Bobby on the “Killer Camp” reality show he hosted; some exploration of his mental robustness; and how he went viral as the worst comic in the world…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Bobby:Bobby and Red Richardson’s podcast is “The Year Is”, discover it at linktre.ee/theyearispodBobby’s“Cockroach” tour continues in Southend, Cardiff, Norwich and concludes in London - get tickets at www.bobbymair.netIG: @bobbymaircomedianTW: @bobbymairEverything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on TwitterStu recently went viral on Instagram so changed the official podcast account into @StuartGoldsmithComedyAnd he goes by that name on noted spyware site Tiktok, should you dare…www.comedianscomedian.comFind out everything Stu’s up to at www.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” -- David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BAFTA-winning, Cumberbatch-beating actor, comic, and now the writer-performer of his screamingly funny new audiobook “Isaac Steele and the Forever Man”, Daniel Rigby is an extraordinary talent. The star of “Eric & Ernie” (BBC), Black Mirror’s “Waldo” episode, and Donald in Will Sharpe’s amazing “Flowers” (CH4), Daniel is dipping his toe back into standup after years away.In an episode Stu describes as “absolute ComCom-Bait”, Daniel discusses having no self-esteem despite being good at everything (Stu’s words not his), and how casting directors can smell that he’s an “angry weirdo”. We dig into creativity, dread, anxiety, and why there’s more of him than he intended in his book’s ultra-nihilist protagonist…25mins of extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club include Daniel on the immense responsibility he felt when asked as a young comic to portray the legendary Eric Morecambe on screen; manufacturing a middle class “bumble” to disguise his working class background; and trying to focus on the journey of standup rather than the destination.Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, James Acaster and Fern Brady and the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Daniel:TW: @danielrigbyListen free for 30 days with a free trial to Audible and devour “Isaac Steele and the Forever Man” (actually do this, it’s fantastic!):www.audible.co.uk/pd/Isaac-Steele-and-the-Forever-Man-Audiobook/B09FQ8NKJ9Everything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on Twitter and Instagram and probably bloody Tiktok as well by the time you read thiswww.comedianscomedian.comFind out everything Stu’s up to at www.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“Stuart was brilliant; he nailed the brief, and the balance of meaningful content and humour was perfect for our audience.” Jo Matkin, CEO Celsus Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A comedy queen who will not be disrespected, actor and comedian Dulcé Sloan (The Daily Show) joins us at SXSW in Austin Texas, for a blazing and very funny live interview. We cover her natural authority and its relationship to what “every Black person and woman has to learn”; caring about the crowd and why no successful comic ignores the audience; and how one never truly loses one’s vulnerability to abuse.25mins of extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club include Dulcé on collaboration with the Daily Show writers, and a fascinating walkthrough of her technique for exploring a subject by trying to make the senseless make sense…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, James Acaster and Fern Brady and the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Dulcé:TW/IG: @dulcesloanTW: @thedailyshowwww.dulcesloan.comEverything Stu's up toThis podcast is @ComComPod on Twitter and Instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comFind out everything Stu’s up to at www.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“Stuart was brilliant; he nailed the brief, and the balance of meaningful content and humour was perfect for our audience.” Jo Matkin, CEO Celsus Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the tenth anniversary of the first release, our first ever ComCom guest Rob Deering returns to discuss marathons not sprints. One of Stu’s all-time favourite acts, we’ll celebrate Rob’s huge “Running Commentary” podcast with Paul Tonkinson, and its associated fandom; whether Rob is secretly serious; walking away from the desire to be liked; and the secret of Roger Rabbit’s handcuffs…25 mins of extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club includes Rob on meritocracy and the strange evolution of comedy from the 70s to now, as well as some informed speculation on its future!Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, James Acaster and Fern Brady and the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Rob Deering:Read Rob's brilliant book "Running Tracks" (that could even turn you into a runner):www.waterstones.com/book/running-tracks/rob-deering/9781800180444TW: @deeringrobIG: @robdeeringcomedianwww.robdeering.comEverything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on Twitter and Instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“Stuart was brilliant; he nailed the brief, and the balance of meaningful content and humour was perfect for our audience.” Jo Matkin, CEO Celsus Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this unmissable live special from South By South West, the Bitter Buddha returns to lay waste to us all with analysis of his insanely good new special, “For The Masses”.  We explore how he structured and taped the special; why his sets are all cries for help; his vulnerabilities and internal responses to things; and how to destroy him if you were a heckler…We also peek into his obsession with impending doom, weigh up how much truth there is in the backstory of his archetypal persona, and learn how to flee the scene of an actual murder.Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Eddie:“For The Masses” is available on YouTube here:www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik-skhmSFLITW: @eddiepepitoneIG: @eddiepepWeb: www.eddiepepitone.comEddie’s new podcast “Apocalypse Soon” is available now!Everything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on Twitter and Instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comJoin the mailing-list for info on Stu's upcoming series of previews, and get tickets for his new WIP “A Shared Illusion” at Edinburgh 4-11th Aug 2022 here:https://event.bookitbee.com/38959/stuart-goldsmith-a-shared-illusion-wipFind out everything Stu’s up to at www.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“Stuart was brilliant; he nailed the brief, and the balance of meaningful content and humour was perfect for our audience.” Jo Matkin, CEO Celsus Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CW: Suicide, School shootingVisionary comedian, and actor in “Honey Boy” (Prime) and “Concrete Cowboys” (Netflix), Byron Bowers once moved to LA and slept in his car while he tried to make stand-up work. In this live special from South By South West, he joins us to talk about processing trauma; finding true freedom onstage and emotional freedom among his family; how he apprehends his comic and acting technique; and being so poor people think you’re wealthy…25 mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club include Byron on his relationship to hope, his experience at Old Rope in London, and how he avoids feeling like a v victim of racism in Hollywood.Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, James Acaster and Fern Brady and the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Byron:TW/IG: @ByronBowerswww.byronbowerslive.comByron’s new special “Spiritual Negro” is in the edit, so watch out for a release soon!Everything Stu's up toThis podcast is @ComComPod on Twitter and Instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comFind out everything Stu’s up to at www.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team-members.“Stuart was brilliant; he nailed the brief, and the balance of meaningful content and humour was perfect for our audience.” Jo Matkin, CEO Celsus Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Caffeinated puppy” Matt Richardson joins us to reflect on the parallel tracks of his comedy and “TV personality” careers, and the indefatigable enthusiasm that underpins both. We explore his youthful stand-up bad habits, the trap of “comedy reportage” and also expose the dynamic between his OCD and his fear of doing badly onstage - and how that might have hampered his creativity. But just how good is he with mums?25 mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club include Matt on how his relationship with Virgin Radio came to a rocky end; the “Joel Dommett” factor and what it means for comics; and how to play the game of reality TV and win!Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, James Acaster and Fern Brady and the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Matt:TW: @MattRichardson3Tikitok: @MattRichardson3www.mattrichardsoncomedy.co.ukEverything Stu's up toThis podcast is @ComComPod on Twitter and Instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comFind out everything Stu’s up to at www.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“Stuart was brilliant; he nailed the brief, and the balance of meaningful content and humour was perfect for our audience.” Jo Matkin, CEO Celsus Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The lost episode has finally been found! We’re thrilled to bring you this conversation from Montreal JFL 2017 with Letterkenny’s “Squirrely Dan”, and a wonderfully funny comic and generous laugher, K Trevor Wilson!We talk about long-form story-telling, and how he gets the most comic mileage out of incidents with muggers and arson. Also figuring out who you are onstage; loving the road but desiring a normal life; and the origins of Letterkenny, which at that point was in its infancy, and is currently on its tenth season and one millionth meme!Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Trevor:www.ktrevorwilson.comTW @KTrevorWilsonIG @k.trevorwilsonEverything Stu's up toThis podcast is @ComComPod on Twitter and Instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comFind out everything Stu’s up to at www.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“Stuart was brilliant; he nailed the brief, and the balance of meaningful content and humour was perfect for our audience.” Jo Matkin, CEO Celsus Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We find the irrepressible Slim at a crossroads in his long career. After three decades as “the King of Black British comedy”, this very funny and astonishingly likeable comic is crossing over to the mainstream with the help of new management and a new game-plan.From possibly the world’s most terrifying first gig - shoved onstage by a comedian friend at a sold-out Hackney Empire - to just recently selling out the London Palladium by himself, we talk about faking it til you make it, serving and deserving the community, and the tension between his natural humility and the swagger required to kick down doors…20mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club include Slim on whether connecting with audiences is a teachable skill, a lovely analogy about comics as salespeople and what represents a “good sale”, whether there’s a downside to doing your learning on a different circuit, and the decisions that went into his Live At The Apollo set.Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, James Acaster and Fern Brady and the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with SlimIG: @slimcomedianTwitter: @SLIMcomedianEverything Stu's up toThis podcast is @ComComPod on Twitter and Instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comFind out everything Stu’s up to at www.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“Stuart was brilliant; he nailed the brief, and the balance of meaningful content and humour was perfect for our audience.” Jo Matkin, CEO Celsus Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brilliant Cally Beaton swapped the boardroom for the green room, when Joan Rivers convinced her it wasn’t too late to try comedy in her forties. From first class air travel, to long night-drives to open mics, she’s been putting the hours in and is now reaping the rewards. We talk about why happiness is a U-shaped curve; how her polish enabled her to “hide” in the first part of her comedy career, and how she’s even now unlearning her natural authority and discovering true vulnerability onstage.25 mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club includes Cally on a moment of stark realisation that it’s OK to be flawed; on her part in bringing South Park to the world; and whether “Fuck ‘Em” is a useful mantra… Catch up with Cally:www.callybeaton.comIG: @callybeatoncomedianTW: @callybeatonCally's podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/namaste-motherfuckers/id1562113984Everything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on Twitter and Instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comFind out everything Stu’s up to at www.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“Stuart was brilliant; he nailed the brief, and the balance of meaningful content and humour was perfect for our audience.” Jo Matkin, CEO Celsus Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Attracted to transgression, and an avid writer of dirty jokes, we explore whether very funny Diane Spencer has been overlooked for being too filthy. Prizing structure and organisation, her usually ferocious output hiccupped when she was traumatised by the loss of live work during the pandemic. Back in the saddle now, we talk about focusing on YouTube as an audience-builder, being told “we’ve already got one like you”, and how to be your own agent. But are there really “lots of reasons for people to hate her”?20 mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club includes Diane on whether she’s always been so mentally robust; how she coped with being booed offstage; and how she feels when contributions from her comedian husband Kevin Shepherd get laughs…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, James Acaster and Fern Brady and the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Diane:www.youtube.com/DianeSpencercomedianwww.dianespencer.tvEverything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on Twitter and Instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comFind out everything Stu’s up to at www.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.“Stuart was brilliant; he nailed the brief, and the balance of meaningful content and humour was perfect for our audience.” Jo Matkin, CEO Celsus Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Remembering dear Baz, who passed away last week aged 86. A wonderful, hilarious man and in his own words "one of the better, cheaper acts." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this edited special edition, as Stu interviewed Jimmy live on stage during his “Terribly Funny” tour shows in Manchester, Birmingham and Cardiff, Stu navigates deftly between celebrity anecdotes to push Jimmy into territory which he’s a little less familiar with sharing.We talk about how parenthood may or may not change the way Jimmy works; discover what religion gets right about forgiveness; get knee deep in Jimmy's tax affairs; learn about his anxiety disorder; and find out why no-one needs a kid with a C in physics.With offensive language from the start. Please bear in mind this is a live performance in front of an audience of Jimmy Carr fans who’ve just enjoyed an hour of his best stuff, so - far more so than usual - this takes place within the sacred circle known as “context”. Please continue at your own risk…Catch up with Jimmy:Buy Before & Laughter in hardback, eBook and audiobook:http://smarturl.it/BeforeAndLaughterBuy tour tickets:https://www.jimmycarr.com/uk-tour-dates/Watch Jimmy's brand-new Netflix special 'His Dark Material' from 25th Dec 2021:https://www.netflix.com/title/81478151Everything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on Twitter and Instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comFind out everything Stu’s up to at www.stuartgoldsmith.comStu offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He’s back, he’s bad, and he’s pulled off one of the most surprising pivots of the pandemic: writing an incredibly useful and heartfelt self-help book, masquerading as an autobiography!In this edited special edition, as Stu interviewed Jimmy live on stage during his “Terribly Funny” tour shows in Manchester, Birmingham and Cardiff, Stu navigates deftly between celebrity anecdotes to push Jimmy into territory which he’s a little less familiar with sharing.In part one Jimmy talks about his friend and colleague the late Sean Lock; goes into real detail on his favourite heckles and his strategy for combative comedy roasts; and reveals his deep relationship with his late mother, and how her passing affected the rest of his family.With offensive language from the start. Please bear in mind this is a live performance in front of an audience of Jimmy Carr fans who’ve just enjoyed an hour of his best stuff, so - far more so than usual - this takes place within the sacred circle known as “context”. Please continue at your own risk…Catch up with Jimmy:Buy Before & Laughter in hardback, eBook and audiobook:http://smarturl.it/BeforeAndLaughterBuy tour tickets:https://www.jimmycarr.com/uk-tour-dates/Watch Jimmy's brand-new Netflix special 'His Dark Material' from 25th Dec 2021:https://www.netflix.com/title/81478151 Everything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on Twitter and Instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comFind out everything Stu’s up to at www.stuartgoldsmith.com Stu offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Back on tour after a period of self-reflection, comedy powerhouse Omid Djalili is admirably candid as he shares his concerns about the material that made him famous. Taking to heart some stinging criticism from his son, he explores the tension between his phenomenal commitment to live performance and his craving for validationWe talk about the tendency of white middle-class reviewers to froth at his otherness; whether or not his “everything and the kitchen sink” approach armed them against him; and find out what advice a young Michael McIntyre rejected…20 mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club includes Omid on how Whoopi Goldberg inspired him when they worked together, an amazing true story about his approach to casting directors in the early days of his movie career, and the truth behind his mould-breaking audition for his key role in The Mummy (1999)…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, James Acaster and Fern Brady and the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet. Catch up with Omid:TW: @Omid9“Omid Djalili: The Good Times Tour” will be at London’s Eventim Apollo on 18th December and touring the UK until November 2022. For all tour dates and tickets visit www.omidnoagenda.comEverything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on Twitter and Instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comStu offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.stuartgoldsmith.com Stu’s “Virtual Office Party” is now available as the perfect solution to remote-working office parties, sales conferences, motivational and wellbeing events.“It was an absolutely hysterical and wonderful evening, for both those partaking and everyone watching online!”- Maria Kuzak (Fundraising Manager at CALM)“The games and interactive element were hilarious and extremely well executed! 10/10 from us, you created a real buzz in our business, thank you.”- Ben Gott (SVP at Merkle)For more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart, go to www.stuartgoldsmith.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With a dedicated crowd of 650K YouTube subscribers, Foil Arms & Hog are a live sketch act who also do internet videos, and not “YouTubers” like you thought...We explore how these lovely men have spent a decade at the Edinburgh Fringe entirely on their own terms, and why they aspire to “Moneyball” but don’t know their arse from their SEO.We uncover their creative, scripting and filming processes, examine their position as “permanent underdogs”, and as we dive further into how they pool their personal ambition, we happen upon one of the best thing’s Stu has ever heard…40 mins of scorchingly good extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club includes FA&H sharing their own homemade vocabulary of sketch-writing terms, including “The Matrix’, “The Swan-dive”, “Chris-Rocking” and more! We also cover how they embody the DIY aesthetic regarding management and pitching to people, and Stu forces them to describe each other’s strengths and weaknesses in detail…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, James Acaster and Fern Brady and the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet. For Foil Arms & Hogs videos check out: www.youtube.com/foilarmsandhog(And because they are not 'Youtubers' you can see their live show tour dates here: www.foilarmsandhog.ie/tour) Everything Stu's up to:Stu offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.stuartgoldsmith.com Stu’s “Virtual Office Party” is now available as the perfect solution to remote-working office parties, sales conferences, motivational and wellbeing events.“It was an absolutely hysterical and wonderful evening, for both those partaking and everyone watching online!”- Maria Kuzak, (Fundraising Manager at CALM)"The games and interactive element were hilarious and extremely well executed! 10/10 from us, you created a real buzz in our business, thank you."- Ben Gott, (SVP at Merkle) This podcast is @ComComPod on Twitter and Instagramwww.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teetering on the brink of the “elder statesman” phase of his career, masterful comic Tom Stade  reflects on surviving the pandemic due to his strong family unit and his natural impish inclination not to take anything too seriously.We talk about the relationship between political correctness and deliberately being inappropriate, hitting critical mass as a touring comic, and the long-term relationship with fans that develops after decades in the business.We also discuss his theory that he’s held back professionally by his stoner reputation, unpick whether charisma can be learnt, and for the first time ask “are you ever not happy?”Catch Commander Stade:www.tomstade.comTW: @tomstadecomicTom Stade will be on tour for the remainder of 2021 with ‘You Aint Seen Nothing yet’ for tickets visit: https://tomstade.com/ Everything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on Twitter and Instagramwww.comedianscomedian.com Stu offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.stuartgoldsmith.com Stu’s “Virtual Office Party” is now available as the perfect solution to remote-working office parties, sales conferences, motivational and wellbeing events.“It was an absolutely hysterical and wonderful evening, for both those partaking and everyone watching online!”- Maria Kuzak,(Fundraising Manager at CALM)"The games and interactive element were hilarious and extremely well executed! 10/10 from us, you created a real buzz in our business, thank you." - Ben Gott, (SVP at Merkle)For more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart, go to www.stuartgoldsmith.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Psychotherapist, author, speaker and agony aunt, Philippa Perry graces the show with her extremely funny and invigorating presence!  We talk about her journey into speaking via book tours, and explore the relationship between her authentic self and her performance and therapist voices.We also discover how her career in psychotherapy started as a means of coping with her own loneliness with regard to her “role-playing” parents, and learn about her envy when her husband Grayson Perry won the Turner Prize. We also ask whether the adoration of strangers is a lasting solution to the “narcissistic injury” that often sets people on a path to becoming performers…20 mins of extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club features Philippa recalling a meeting with Jimmy Carr and an aspect of his social fluidity that left her gobsmacked; how she deals with criticism and trolling; she shares with Stu some of their anxieties about interviewing people; and she helps a bit more with Stu’s concerns about whether his son Boutros will mind being talked about onstage… Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, James Acaster and Fern Brady and the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Philippa:TW: @Philippa_PerryPhilippa’s profile in the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/philippa-perryFind “The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read”, “How To Stay Sane” and “Couch Fiction” at all good bookshops or, if you must, Amazon.Everything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on Twitter and Instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comStu offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.stuartgoldsmith.comStu’s “Virtual Office Party” is now available as the perfect solution to remote-working office parties, sales conferences, motivational and wellbeing events.“It was an absolutely hysterical and wonderful evening, for both those partaking and everyone watching online!”- Maria Kuzak, (Fundraising Manager at CALM)"The games and interactive element were hilarious and extremely well executed! 10/10 from us, you created a real buzz in our business, thank you." - Ben Gott, (SVP at Merkle)For more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart, go to www.stuartgoldsmith.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bear-like in stature and authority and nimble of wit, Pierre Novellie is a fantastic comedian and writer who wrings every punchline out of his routines.  We talk about how his origins in Johannesburg and the Isle Of Man make him an “outsider expert” on the English, and discover why he deliberately obscured his vice-presidency of Cambridge Footlights. We talk about his early assumptions that he was somehow low status on stage; explore his body of work, and attitudes to risk and certainty; and discover the perils of “getting your bum out too early”…A belting 40 mins of extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club features Pierre and Stu sharing their tips on how to survive corporate gigs, with advice on material selection, mindset and how to think about the money in the right way. Also Stu reads some of Pierre’s reviews back to him - the monster! - and we learn about authenticity, and how to wring all of the topics out of a joke… Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, James Acaster and Fern Brady and the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Pierre Novellie:www.pierrenovellie.comTW/IG: @pierrenovelliePierre is co-host of @TheBudPod with Mr Phil WangWatch Pierre’s sketch show CUTS here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9ZMCN60lVAEverything Stu's up to:TW/IG: @ComComPodwww.comedianscomedian.comStu offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.stuartgoldsmith.comStu’s “Virtual Office Party” is now available as the perfect solution to remote-working office parties, sales conferences, motivational and wellbeing events.“It was an absolutely hysterical and wonderful evening, for both those partaking and everyone watching online!”- Maria Kuzak (Fundraising Manager at CALM)The games and interactive element were hilarious and extremely well executed! 10/10 from us, you created a real buzz in our business, thank you." - Ben Gott, (SVP at Merkle)For more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart, go to www.stuartgoldsmith.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on Twitter and Instagramwww.comedianscomedian.com Stu offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic. “The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member) Find out more at www.stuartgoldsmith.com Stu’s “Virtual Office Party” is now available as the perfect solution to remote-working office parties, sales conferences, motivational and wellbeing events. “It was an absolutely hysterical and wonderful evening, for both those partaking and everyone watching online!”- Maria Kuzak, (Fundraising Manager at CALM) "The games and interactive element were hilarious and extremely well executed! 10/10 from us, you created a real buzz in our business, thank you." - Ben Gott, (SVP at Merkle) For more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart, go to www.stuartgoldsmith.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A quite brilliant stand-up, with gloriously unique and surprising one-liners, Aaron Chen started comedy incredibly young, and was already working to shed every ounce of hackery while still in his teens. As well as his deeply alt roots and proclivity to experiment with comedy forms, he is also a master of the internally collapsing vox pop, pushing through the soul-crushing rejections to a place of genuine brilliance.We talk about his early experiments with ultra-awkwardness, his astounding YouTube figures, why he searches for the one-line joke in every story, and discover why he never performs in Chinese, despite his huge Chinese audience.Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Follow Aaron:TW @aaronch3nIG @chennylifestyleWisdom School with Aaron Chen (Adult Swim)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUdPv8VmH5cEverything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on Twitter and Instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comStu offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.stuartgoldsmith.comStu’s “Virtual Office Party” is now available as the perfect solution to remote-working office parties, sales conferences, motivational and wellbeing events.“It was an absolutely hysterical and wonderful evening, for both those partaking and everyone watching online!”- Maria Kuzak (Fundraising Manager at CALM)“The games and interactive element were hilarious and extremely well executed! 10/10 from us, you created a real buzz in our business, thank you." - Ben Gott (SVP at Merkle)For more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart, go to www.stuartgoldsmith.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CW: Discussion of transphobia by people who aren’t affected by it.Adam Rowe is a killer. Huge punchlines, banging material that draws screams and whoops from his crowd, and a laser-like focus on achieving his ambitions. But what does his urge to defend controversial opinions for fun cost him, or indeed his audience?We talk at length about whether or not his “Victoria’s Secret” routine is transphobic, and whether getting the laugh is more important than a moral or ethical stance. We also cover whether aiming to be the best is enough to stay happy, the origins of his very shrewd “Club Comic” special, and where his drive comes from.30 mins of extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club features Adam on the smash hit success of his and Dan Nightingale’s “Have A Word” podcast; some great insights into his writing process; and why he assumes he has ADHD. Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, James Acaster and Fern Brady and the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Catch up with Adam Rowe:Have a word podcast - https://haveaword.page/TW @adamrowecomedywww.adamrowe.co.ukIG @adamrowecomedian“Club Comic” www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9E5NYKOBdkEverything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on Twitter and Instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comStu offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.stuartgoldsmith.comStu’s “Virtual Office Party” is now available as the perfect solution to remote-working office parties, sales conferences, motivational and wellbeing events.“It was an absolutely hysterical and wonderful evening, for both those partaking and everyone watching online!”- Maria Kuzak (Fundraising Manager at CALM)The games and interactive element were hilarious and extremely well executed! 10/10 from us, you created a real buzz in our business, thank you." - Ben Gott, (SVP at Merkle)For more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart, go to www.stuartgoldsmith.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A consummate compere, wielding her natural warmth and blunt honesty to devastating effect, Thanyia Moore has pulled off something extraordinary - a slot on Mock the Week before she debuts her first hour.  We discuss her lack of love for writing, and the inverse pressure of a post-TV debut, as well as her secret game-plan for comedy and beyond. We also talk about whether the change in UK comedy industry booking policy as a response to Black Lives Matter is meaningful or temporary; spotting accidentally radicalised language in reviews; and how to tell when you’ve just done some good acting…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Superbly funny and effortlessly real on stage, Harriet Kemsley grew up scared of saying the wrong thing and making mistakes, but after trying stand-up at the suggestion of her parents, found in it the ability to embrace both her failures and her self. We talk about coping with having your debut show critically mauled; the self-control beneath the dizziness that people often assume of her; and crying at failing at clowning.20 mins of extra content from this interview is available exclusively to the Insiders Club! We discover Harriet’s process for the roast of her husband, fellow comedian Bobby Mair, and her appearance on Live at the Apollo; discover why men often assume she needs help; and how she’s ageing into her persona. Plus, we finally get to the bottom of what she really thought of New York…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, James Acaster and Fern Brady and the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You might know brilliantly witty and wise singer-songwriter Jonathan Coulton as the writer of the Portal theme “Still Alive”, or from his many viral hits, albums, huge tours, or even his fan-cruise…We talk about "JoCo’s" Thing-A-Week project and how it (combined with a timely fascination for crowd-funding) propelled him from a software career, to one of the kings of online creativity. We also discuss the pros and cons of aiming for viral success, his tool-kit for uncovering catchiness in his music, and why he secretly finds it hard to rock authentically.32 mins of extra content from this interview is available exclusively to the Insiders Club!We discover Jonathan’s manifesto on art and commerce, and how the book Free Culture by Lawrence Lessig informs it; learn how many fans you need to make a cruise happen; and find out what moderation is necessary to keep the space safe for risk…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, James Acaster and Fern Brady and the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A ramshackle prospective who's who (also: when's when and where's where) for this year's ramshackle Edinburgh Fringe. Feels nice. Might see you there. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Crime fiction powerhouse and former circuit comedian, CK McDonnell is on the cusp of levelling further up, with a TV adaptation of his half a million selling “Dublin Trilogy” in the works.We talk about how to write fast, being calibrated for tough criticism, solving problems in the shower, and how to let characters evolve - especially Bunny McGarry who went from villain to his best loved creation.25 mins of extra content from this interview is available exclusively to the Insiders Club!We discover Caimh’s secrets of self-publication, learn about how he cultivates the fanbase that now flock around him, and learn why he won’t record his own audiobooks!Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, James Acaster and Fern Brady and the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an industry awash with “edgelord” comedians, Fin Taylor is the real deal. Erudite, thunderously funny, and provocative having done the reading first, he manages to annoy absolutely everybody.We talk about how his unusual schooling instilled in him an apparent license to infuriate; how his need to row back from the furthest possible point makes his new material gigs so painful; how he went turbo after an agent-shedding Edinburgh decision; and why he finds self-worth in his material not the audience’s approval…AND:35 mins of extra content from this interview is available exclusively to the Insiders Club!We discover an underground route for UK comics hoping to break America; how to bring a knife to a roast battle; Fin’s new focus on writing prose; and he continues to chip away at the omertà code of silence of the Bearpit Podcast Podcast…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, James Acaster and Fern Brady and the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.@FinTaylorcomedyfintaylor.comThis podcast is @ComComPod on twitter and instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comI'm doing Edinburgh!www.monkeybarrelcomedy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stevie Martin has been generating excellent material for years, and is now starting to break through due to her jaw-droppingly funny online videos, packed with punchlines and with a genuinely unique flavour.We talk about the huge amount of time and prep that goes into her work, as she battles to feel like a “proper comedian” in an industry that prioritises certain styles, backgrounds and looks.We also explore her brilliant former sketch outfit Massive Dad, and whether their aesthetic made them “unapproachable” as performers; the relative loneliness of stand-up; and trying to love Edinburgh in the way that it deserves to be loved…Insiders:35 mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club include Stevie on her murky past as an Edinburgh Fringe reviewer! She also shares some surprising insights about what works on Twitter and why, the inside editorial secrets of content creators, and we find out why her next Edinburgh poster might sell her in a very different way than previous years.Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, James Acaster and Fern Brady and the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irrepressibly optimistic, utterly in love with his craft and very mentally robust, Paul Zerdin is the British ventriloquist who won America's Got Talent.We talk about his lengthy career working across different circuits -- from variety, cruises and holiday camps to mainstream comedy -- and discuss how he navigates the suspicions of the alternative comedy industry. Paul outlines in detail his pandemic pivot, the relentless energy devoted to TV pitches, how he planned his AGT set to build and build, as well as deception, illusion, and the modular nature of magic...~15 minutes of extra Insider content available, including Paul's drive to create a fourth-wall-breaking ventriloquist animation, world domination, and Vegas, baby!Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, James Acaster and Alfie Brown, and your invite to the forthcoming ones with Fern Brady and a “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet (MClinPsych)Find Paul here:paulzerdin.comIG: @paulzerdinTW: @paulzerdinFB: Paul ZerdinYT: Paul Zerdinwww.paulzerdin.comyoutube.com/paulzerdin@paulzerdin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Josh Johnson doesn't put a foot wrong. This masterful young US comic never stops working and is reaping the benefits with a place in the Daily Show writers' room, and two brand new releases: his own music/comedy collaboration "Mixtape", and his debut special "# (Hashtag)".We encounter a really thoughtful approach to his art, and talk about his possibly unique combination of comedy and non-comic original music; explore embellishment; and how "playing to his weakness" serves his material...20ish minutes of extra content available exclusively to Insiders as Josh ruminates on vulnerabilities, approach, and how not even the most vexatious of Uber drivers can knock back the offer of free fried chicken.Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, James Acaster and Alfie Brown, and your invite to the forthcoming ones with Fern Brady and a “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet (MClinPsych)Connect with Josh Johnson: https://www.joshjohnsoncomedy.com/https://www.instagram.com/joshjohnsoncomedy/https://twitter.com/joshjohnsonhttps://www.facebook.com/JoshJComedyhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLuYADJ6hESLHX87JnsGbjA Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“A drill-sergeant not a perfectionist”, Jessie Cave enjoys simultaneous careers as an actress, comic, artist, and performance artist, all of which marry an extraordinary pragmatism with an attitude of artistic abundance. We talk about her relentless documentation of her life as a means of seeking permanence, the tragic death of her brother in 2019 - how she processed it, and the effect it had on her creativity - as well as her recent Soho On Demand special “Sunrise”, filmed in Corona to an audience of her sister BeBe, and her new novel “Sunset”.* Content warning: Sexual assault *15 mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club include Jessie on how her membership of the Harry Potter franchise has a legacy of fandom that isn’t always useful to her as an independent artist, and how the Cave Sisters Patreon has changed her relationship with elements of her following.Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, James Acaster and Fern Brady and the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.Instagram @JessieCaveTwitter @JessieCaveWebsite: www.jessiedoodles.comFind Jessie’s debut novel “Sunset” here: https://linktr.ee/Jessie_CaveFind Jessie and Bebe’s podcast: “We Can’t Talk About This Right Now” on YouTube and podcast providersPatreon: www.patreon.com/cavesisters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did a grumpy table magician find a way to turn “being pathetic” into 400 shows a year in his own theatre at Las Vegas?  Only Piff The Magic Dragon knows!We’ll discover how a shop-bought dragon costume flicked the switch from sackable corporate table guy, to deadpan bulletproof performer and self-styled “loser of America’s Got Talent”. Along the way we’ll find out why the perfect show will never happen, and why a fear of failure turns most magicians into “hack copycats”…30 mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club include Piff on the invention of his own tricks, and how something new with a block of jelly has already cost him two and half years and over $70,000; how own bad magic and guilty shortcuts; his evangelist uprising; and what comics can learn from magicians.Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, James Acaster and Fern Brady and the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you thought wrestlers shared some of the tropes of comedians’ lives, wait til you hear about historians! Comedy-adjacent public historian, writer of “Dead Famous” and other superb books, and creator and host of “You’re Dead To Me” (BBC Sounds) Greg Jenner had factual oversight on every word of Horrible Histories ever recorded, and wrote some of the jokes too. He’s also a student of ComCom and probably our most learned ever guest…We talk about his creative process in constructing analogies that package and frame his research; learn about the pitfalls of generalising and the responsibility of the historian; and he shares his deeply personal struggle with mental health, anxiety and extraordinary insomnia, and they effect they still have on his fraught relationship with celebrity.30 mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club include Greg delving further into his anxieties, particularly those that accrete around social media and listener feedback; the joy of online kindness; “factoids” and his doomed quest to rid the internet of viral “fake facts”; and we learn about the hidden link between Rattus Rattus from Horrible Histories and Greg himself.Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, James Acaster and Alfie Brown, and your invite to the forthcoming ones with Fern Brady and a “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet (MClinPsych) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Not a cute ragdoll, but a disgusting sex robot”, Rosie Jones is a triple-threat in ways of which you couldn’t dream if you hadn’t seen her act. Leveraging hugely punchy comedy from people’s constant underestimation at her sheer agency, we discover the precision comic timing borne of her cerebral palsy; her new political dynamism; and why she won’t drown, even though she can’t swim.40 mins of extra content from comedy’s Thanos, available exclusively to the Insiders Club include her *unmissable* insights from behind both production and performance sides of TV panel games; how and why her feelings about being viewed as an inspiration have changed; and why Nish Kumar is such a horrible man.Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown and your invite to the forthcoming ones with Fern Brady (24th May) and a self-help for comedians special with Amanda Donnet (MClinPsych) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laser-guided comic, writer and corporate host, the "modnifique" Ian Moore is every inch the Comedy Store headliner, but in the early part of his career his battle with stage fright left him a more deadpan act than he intended. We talk about the phenomenon of white blokes in suits raging against the world; the reality of his apparent dream life commuting from rural France to the UK for gigs; and the excoriating ten-page editor's note on his first foray into detective fiction, and his brilliant response to it…25 mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club includes Ian on what it means to him to be a Mod, his entry-point into being published as a writer, and the forces behind his doomed attempt to set up a creative retreat for artists. Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown and your invite to the forthcoming one with Fern Brady (24th May)Catch up with Ian:ianmoore.info *Death and Croissants out July 2021*  Pre-Order HERE*New Podcast - Mustn't Grumble* HEREEverything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on twitter and instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comStu’s “Virtual Office Party” is now available as the perfect solution to remote-working office parties, sales conferences, motivational and wellbeing events.“It was an absolutely hysterical and wonderful evening, for both those partaking and everyone watching online!”- Maria Kuzak (Fundraising Manager at CALM)The games and interactive element were hilarious and extremely well executed! 10/10 from us, you created a real buzz in our business, thank you." - Ben Gott, (SVP at Merkle)For more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart, go to www.stuartgoldsmith.co.ukStu also offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.stuartgoldsmith.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Stuart Laws an absurdist rambler who froths up a load of increasingly hilarious nonsense whilst honking in a gilet? Or is he an astute and quite private man who started a production company when he was 18, and went on to produce his own sitcom Grave new World (Amazon Prime) as well as directing James Acaster’s “Repertoire” (Netflix) and countless other standup specials? It’d be great if the answer was “neither” wouldn’t it? But it’s clearly both.We talk about “The Prestige” as it pertains to stand-up shows; what it means to be both producer and director of one’s own work; and what makes other comics attractive assets to his company Turtle Canyon. We also cover openness, privacy and what shocks him about other comedians…25 mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club includes Stuart on the different ways he directs comics, with reference to James Acaster and Joel Dommett; how to direct without imposing; his social media and TikTok sketch strategies, and some insights on the only show ever made about Wario. Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown and your invite to the forthcoming one with Fern Brady!Stuart Laws is up to the following things:Stuart’s series Grave New World is on Prime Video and Vimeo on Demand, links at www.stuartlaws.com.He has two stand up specials on NextUp and his podcast with Matt Winning, Up Your Footfall, is at https://www.podfollow.com/1559039647.Everything else is here: https://linktr.ee/stuartlawscomedyEverything Stu's up to:Stu’s “Virtual Office Party” is now available as the perfect solution to remote-working office parties, sales conferences, motivational and wellbeing events.“It was an absolutely hysterical and wonderful evening, for both those partaking and everyone watching online!”- Maria Kuzak (Fundraising Manager at CALM)"The games and interactive element were hilarious and extremely well executed! 10/10 from us, you created a real buzz in our business, thank you." - Ben Gott (SVP at Merkle)For more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart, go to www.stuartgoldsmith.co.ukStu also offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!”- (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.stuartgoldsmith.co.ukThis podcast is @ComComPod on twitter and instagramwww.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scintillating comic, podcaster, and co-host of “Gigless”, one of the online success stories of the last year, Catherine Bohart knows herself inside out and has a powerful mental toolkit for comedy.We dig into her past life as a former university debate superstar, and find out how it helped her stand-up as well her understanding of herself as a queer person; we also discover how her comedy helps disrupt her OCD, both in terms of lifestyle and in giving permission to express shame.  We also consider why income can be a useful metric for success, and why she won’t wear jeans…20 mins of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club includes Catherine in more depth on debating things you don’t believe in, her reflections on her online shows, and how she coped with a public breakup with her co-host under the peculiar demands of a regular show-based micro-community…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with James Acaster and Nish Kumar.Catch up with Catherine:Catherine’s weekly online gig is “Gigless”, every Thursday and you can find tickets on www.catherinebohart.comCatherine is also booking a load of live dates in from May which will also be on her website and she talks about them nonstop on instagram and Twitter where she is @catherinebohartEverything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on twitter and instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comStu’s “Virtual Office Party” is now available as the perfect solution to remote-working office parties, sales conferences, motivational and wellbeing events.“It was an absolutely hysterical and wonderful evening, for both those partaking and everyone watching online!”- Maria Kuzak (Fundraising Manager at CALM)The games and interactive element were hilarious and extremely well executed! 10/10 from us, you created a real buzz in our business, thank you." - Ben Gott, (SVP at Merkle)For more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart, go to www.stuartgoldsmith.co.ukStu also offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.stuartgoldsmith.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gloriously disgusting double-act The Delightful Sausage is comprised of jointly and severally brilliant Amy Gledhill and Chris Cantrill, for whom every line is a rug-pull, every image a rat being sick.  We talk about world-building, and the bible that holds the secret geography and population of “Icklewick”; how they aim for mainstream success in other fields to allow the Sausage to keep leaning into the surreal; and the whole greasy business of creating a coherent brand….We also release the spiders, and finally find out exactly where you get podcasts.20 mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club features the Sausage on naivety and neuroses, their very functional double-act dynamic, and who picks who up when they’re down.Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with James Acaster, and Nish Kumar.Connect with the Sausage:www.thedelightfulsausage.com@mmmsausage@toplesscantrill@thatgledhillbit.ly/LinksOfSausagehttps://www.patreon.com/TheDelightfulSausageFind "Tiredness Kills" wherever it is that podcasts are hiding.Everything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on twitter and instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comStu’s “Virtual Office Party” is now available as the perfect solution to remote-working office parties, sales conferences, motivational and wellbeing events.“It was an absolutely hysterical and wonderful evening, for both those partaking and everyone watching online!”- Maria Kuzak (Fundraising Manager at CALM)The games and interactive element were hilarious and extremely well executed! 10/10 from us, you created a real buzz in our business, thank you." - Ben Gott, (SVP at Merkle)For more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart, go to www.stuartgoldsmith.co.ukStu also offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.stuartgoldsmith.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Come for the musical theatre, stay for the trauma!”  That was the manifesto of the “Asda Kate Bush” Sooz Kempner, on her debut hour, an extraordinary verbatim performance of the real email her father sent to her mother, that led to divorce.We talk about upbringing as the only girl that didn’t do ballet, and how that inspired her self-belief; learn to how wind up Flag Twitter and bat away Reply Guys; and discover how she maintains her armour via creative success…20 mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club features Sooz on story-telling via nostalgia; the challenges of her handsome brother being on TV a lot; and how she deals with her internal mean girl.Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with James Acaster, and Nish Kumar.Discover Sooz Kempner:www.soozkempner.co.uk@SoozUKCo-hosting The Queen Podcast, co-hosting Mystery on the Rocks podcast, and streaming pretty much constantly at twitch.tv/soozkempner. Everything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on twitter and instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comStu’s “Virtual Office Party” is now available as the perfect solution to remote-working office parties, sales conferences, motivational and wellbeing events.“It was an absolutely hysterical and wonderful evening, for both those partaking and everyone watching online!”- Maria Kuzak (Fundraising Manager at CALM)The games and interactive element were hilarious and extremely well executed! 10/10 from us, you created a real buzz in our business, thank you." - Ben Gott, (SVP at Merkle)For more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart, go to www.stuartgoldsmith.co.ukStu also offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.stuartgoldsmith.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the eve of his first solo Netflix special, one of South Africa’s finest comedy exports returns to the show to discuss the challenges of filming a show in Covid times, and the influence of his movie-grown director in planning the shoot. We talk with double Emmy-nominated Loyiso about compromising decisions on and off TV; his aim to improve rather than earn; the value and price of stubbornness; and why “clarity is freedom”…Loyiso Gola: Unlearning is available now on Netflix.www.loyisogola.com@loyisogola 15 minutes of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club includes Loyiso in detail on his filming technique, why crowdwork is a dangerous drug, and his conscious effort not to exploit trauma for material…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&A’s with James Acaster, and Nish Kumar.Everything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on twitter and instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comStu’s “Virtual Office Party” is now available as the perfect solution to remote-working office parties, sales conferences, motivational and wellbeing events.“It was an absolutely hysterical and wonderful evening, for both those partaking and everyone watching online!”- Maria Kuzak (Fundraising Manager at CALM)The games and interactive element were hilarious and extremely well executed! 10/10 from us, you created a real buzz in our business, thank you." - Ben Gott, (SVP at Merkle)For more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart, go to www.stuartgoldsmith.co.ukStu also offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.stuartgoldsmith.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian and go-getter Ramon Rivas lives in abundance as an artist, despite his lack of financial privilege. Interviewed in his hometown of Lorain, Ohio, we talk about his realisation that audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2019 were perceiving him as white, and explore  what that culture shock meant for how he views himself.We discuss how hustle can get you noticed as well as hold you back; how to seek connection with an audience without seeking distance from yourself; and why road dogs can die in alt clubs.35 minutes of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club includes Ramon on some of his outre tactics for making comedy pay, including an exploded diagram of his Distrokid strategy, and this podcast’s first foray into “Weed Comedy”…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&A with James Acaster, and details on the forthcoming one with Nish Kumar.Catch up with Ramon:Explore Ramon’s excellent website with links to his stand-up on Apple Music and Spotify via www.blazerramon.comTW: @blazerramonRamon’s experience being “A White Man In Edinburgh” in his own words https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HsEvgA-9YUEverything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on twitter and instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comStu’s “Virtual Office Party” is now available as the perfect solution to remote-working office parties, sales conferences, motivational and wellbeing events.“It was an absolutely hysterical and wonderful evening, for both those partaking and everyone watching online!”- Maria Kuzak (Fundraising Manager at CALM)The games and interactive element were hilarious and extremely well executed! 10/10 from us, you created a real buzz in our business, thank you." - Ben Gott, (SVP at Merkle)For more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart, go to www.stuartgoldsmith.co.ukStu also offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.stuartgoldsmith.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russian-born and raised in Surrey at an American school, Olga Koch is a fiercely funny act with unique perspectives that aren’t simply confined to her unusual backstory. We talk about her background in computer science and find some parallels between jokes and code; talk about the difference in-between her comic voice onstage and on Twitter; and learn how she deals with conditional anxiety, exceptionalism, and the fear that comedy won’t return.Also featuring why her parents wouldn’t be impressed with a Netflix special, and why you can’t eat hope for dinner…Discover what Olga’s up to besides working hard all the time:www.rocknrolga.com@rocknrolgaEverything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on twitter and instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comStu’s “Virtual Office Party” is now available as the perfect solution to remote-working office parties, sales conferences, motivational and wellbeing events.“It was an absolutely hysterical and wonderful evening, for both those partaking and everyone watching online!”- Maria Kuzak (Fundraising Manager at CALM)The games and interactive element were hilarious and extremely well executed! 10/10 from us, you created a real buzz in our business, thank you." - Ben Gott, (SVP at Merkle)For more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart, go to www.virtualofficeparty.co.ukStu also offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.comedyinsights.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bethany Black makes a powerfully funny connection with her fanbase, and has been wielding it to great effect over the course of her heavily-shielded pandemic experience.We explore the effect on her work of her concurrent diagnoses with autism, ADHD and agoraphobia, and discuss how her fanbase consists of people just like her, rather than the cool kids she was trying to impress.We also cover painting her herself into a corner with stand-up; how some promoters book to their own taste without realising; not being famous enough for The Chase; and what she’s already anticipating tolerating in her sixties…No extras for this episode but you can still hit www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for all the extras from every episode that has them, including the exclusive Insiders Q&A with James Acaster!Follow Bethany Black:Follow @beffernieblackFollow her and subscribe to: http://twitch.tv/beffernieblackBuy her stand-up special: http://gofasterstripe.com/unwinnable Tip her through http://ko-fi.com/bethanyblackEverything Stu's up to:Stu’s “Virtual Office Party” is now available as the perfect solution to remote-working office parties, sales conferences, motivational and wellbeing events.“It was an absolutely hysterical and wonderful evening, for both those partaking and everyone watching online!”- Maria Kuzak (Fundraising Manager at CALM)The games and interactive element were hilarious and extremely well executed! 10/10 from us, you created a real buzz in our business, thank you." - Ben Gott, (SVP at Merkle)For more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart, go to www.virtualofficeparty.co.ukStu also offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.comedyinsights.comThis podcast is @ComComPod on twitter and instagramwww.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Energetic, elastic and totally committed to being “the toughest kid on the estate” when it comes to his ability to get laughs, Russell Kane has firm ideas about his precise place in the comedy firmament.We talk about the creative power of his exceptional on-stage energy; his surprising reaction to Stewart Lee’s material about him; his unerring ability to mind-map a topic and see the central idea immediately; and learn about the hour-long preview which he scripted in just eight words, moments before walking onstage…25 minutes of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club includes Russell’s incredible advice for comics considering performing live standup on YouTube, and thoughts on his possible over-commitment to showing one particular critic who was boss…The single confidant who suggested that his experiments with image were driving away his long-term audience…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&A with James Acaster.Follow Russell on:@russell_kanewww.russellkane.co.ukAnd subscribe to his channel on YouTube, home of the “Kane-ing”Everything Stu's up to:Stu’s “Virtual Office Party” is now available as the perfect solution to remote-working office parties, sales conferences, motivational and wellbeing events.“It was an absolutely hysterical and wonderful evening, for both those partaking and everyone watching online!”- Maria Kuzak (Fundraising Manager at CALM)The games and interactive element were hilarious and extremely well executed! 10/10 from us, you created a real buzz in our business, thank you." - Ben Gott, (SVP at Merkle)For more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart, go to www.virtualofficeparty.co.ukStu also offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.comedyinsights.comThis podcast is @ComComPod on twitter and instagramwww.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Head writer for “The Mash Report”, show-runner for “Hello America” on Quibi, and profoundly nice man, Tom Neenan has a practised ease with pulling jokes out of thin air.  He’s also a comcompletist and one of the nicest people in the industry.We talk about his entry into the business as a recipient of the BBC writer’s bursary, how a position as staff-writer taught him to be super-productive, and how to mine ambiguity for a punchline.30 minutes of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club includes Tom on learning to make shows more personal; Stu and Tom get self-indulgent riffing on story and the Lubitsch touch with reference to Pixar and the MCU, and Tom shares some of his favourite joke-formats…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&A with James Acaster.Tom NeenanFollow @tneenan for his very funny tweets and drawingFollow Tom’s Dr Who podcast @WheezingpodWe also mentioned some of his favourite instructional YouTubers; these include HBomberguy, Jenny Nicholson, Every Frame a Painting, Lessons From The Screenplay, Folded Ideas, and Lindsey Ellis.And here’s a link to the video about The Lubitsch touch Tom mentions in the extras:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxqt7UmN_bQEverything Stu's up to:Stu’s “Virtual Office Party” is now available as the perfect solution to remote-working office parties, sales conferences, motivational and wellbeing events.“It was an absolutely hysterical and wonderful evening, for both those partaking and everyone watching online!”- Maria Kuzak (Fundraising Manager at CALM)The games and interactive element were hilarious and extremely well executed! 10/10 from us, you created a real buzz in our business, thank you." - Ben Gott, Practice Lead, Marketing Solutions EMEA, SVP at MerkleFor more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart, go to www.virtualofficeparty.co.ukStu also offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.comedyinsights.comThis podcast is @ComComPod on twitter and instagramwww.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Winner and still holder of the 2019 Edinburgh Comedy Award, Jordan Brookes’ marriage of stand-up and clowning is an absolutely extraordinary experience. He deftly walks a tightrope between frankness and insincerity, observing the observers, and mining material from the problem of self-reflection. And if you think that sounds pretentious you’re going to love the rest…We talk about calling bullshit on emotional manipulation, his slow climb back to normality after a youth inflected with OCD and depression, as well as the seductive narrative of victimhood…. Also seducing your mum.35 minutes of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club includes Jordan on the arduous process of making his hit show “Bleed”, which did something incredibly new at imaginative, at some cost; the cultural race to expose more and more weakness and suffering over which comedy seems to obsess, and his mixed feelings about the award win.Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&A with James Acaster.Follow Jordan Brookes:On his excellent website, on which you can watch tonnes of clips, plus digitally download "Bleed" and "I've Got Nothing": www.jordanbrookescomedy.comOn Twitter: @jordbrookesEverything Stu's up to:Stu’s “Infinite Sofa” chat show is now available as the perfect solution to remote-working office parties, sales conferences, motivational and twellness events.“It was an absolutely hysterical and wonderful evening, for both those partaking and everyone watching online!” Maria Kuzak (Fundraising Manager at CALM)For more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart, go to www.virtualofficeparty.co.ukStu also offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.comedyinsights.comThis podcast is @ComComPod on twitter and instagramwww.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach, Mark and Broden return to the podcast on one of the last stops of the campaign trail for their new Netflix special “Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House Of Fun”. It’s an extraordinary achievement, as they bring exactly what’s brilliant about their live work to the TV, and it will have you breathless with laughter.Purveyors of, in the words of one ComCom fan, “Dubstep Python”, they reveal all about the first edit of the show where no one laughed, choosing authenticity over perfection, why none of the context matters, and how they managed to make a TV show without compromising on anything.25 minutes of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club includes the boys on the polarising ability of their work, which sketch grabs new fans most successfully, their three-take system for improvising on camera, and how much pud is a little bit of pud…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&A with James Acaster.Everything Stu's up to:Stu’s “Infinite Sofa” chat show is now available as the perfect solution to remote-working office parties, motivational and team-building events.“It was an absolutely hysterical and wonderful evening, for both those partaking and everyone watching online!” Maria Kuzak (Fundraising Manager at CALM)For more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart, go to www.virtualofficeparty.co.ukStu also offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.comedyinsights.comThis podcast is @ComComPod on twitter and instagramwww.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's going viral, and then there's Uncle Roger. His MSG-loving, rice-reviewing, phone-case wearing archetypical Asian uncle character has seen Nigel Ng jump from 20,000 to 2.8M YouTube subscribers during the pandemic. Now he returns after only a few months to talk about what winning the YouTube lottery has taught him. We talk about how he'd prepared the field for explosive growth, and how much of it was luck; how it feels to become a professional YouTuber; how he manages collaboration; what new challenges laid in wait for him; and whether his success would be repeatable in an alternate universe...Look back a few months in the archive to hear Nigel’s first appearance on the podcast, and join the Insiders’ Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to hear 20 mins of extra content from that podcast, as well as all the extras from every episode, and the exclusive 60min Zoom Q&A with James Acaster!Find Uncle Roger and Nigel’s own stand-up @mrnigelng on every platform, and on www.youtube.com/mrnigelngHis podcast “Rice To Meet You” is available at www.ricetomeetyoupod.comEverything Stu's up to:Stu’s “Infinite Sofa” chat show is now available as the perfect solution to remote-working office parties!“It was an absolutely hysterical and wonderful evening, for both those partaking and everyone watching online!” Maria Kuzak (Fundraising Manager at CALM)For more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart, go to www.virtualofficeparty.co.ukStu also offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.comedyinsights.comThis podcast is @ComComPod on twitter and instagramwww.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Athena Kugblenu is an impassioned and very funny comic, intent on making people laugh even when they disagree with her.  We talk about joining the comedy circuit from a successful career in the public sector, why she doesn’t debate on Facebook, affinity bias and assimilation.  We also cover why she loves changing her mind, and good honest graft.25 minutes of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club include Athena on why she no longer wants a career in politics, adaptability, and the niche overlap between comics and writers…. Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&A with James Acaster.Catch up with Athena:Follow @athenakugblenu on twitter and instagram.www.athenakugblenu.comwww.athenakugblenu.com/podcast for more news on her podcast “Keeping Athena Company”Everything Stu's up to:The Infinite Sofa chat show is now available as a solution to remote-working office parties over the festive period and beyond! For more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart, go to www.virtualofficeparty.co.ukStu also offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.comedyinsights.comThis podcast is @ComComPod on twitter and instagramwww.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The whole of this two hour conversation is available to everyone over parts one and two, but members of the Insiders Club were also treated to a special Q&A over Zoom, asking James their questions in person. That audio is now available on the Insiders private podcast, and it was so much fun we’re going to do more of them with other comics!  For your future invitations to those, as well as all the extra content from every episode that has it, join now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersAnd now…To celebrate the forthcoming self-release via Dice.fm of his new special “Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999”, James returns to the podcast for two hours of insight across two episodes! In this second part, we talk about how James experiences his fame, why approval doesn’t satisfy him, and why he doesn’t usually admit to desiring a comic legacy.  We also get stuck into some excellent audience questions…“Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999” streams once at 8pm on 17th Dec wherever you are in the world (fancy!) and you can get access here:https://dice.fm/artist/james-acaster-bbx6oDo not attempt to follow James Acaster on social media. Everything Stu's up to:The Infinite Sofa chat show is now available as a solution to remote-working office parties over the festive period and beyond! For more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart, go to www.virtualofficeparty.co.ukStu also offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.comedyinsights.comThis podcast is @ComComPod on twitter and instagramwww.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The whole of this two hour conversation is available to everyone over parts one and two, but members of the Insiders Club were also treated to a special Q&A over Zoom, asking James their questions in person.  That audio is now available on the Insiders private podcast, and it was so much fun we’re going to do more of them with other comics!  For your future invitations to those, as well as all the extra content from every episode that has it, join now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersAnd now…To celebrate the forthcoming self-release via Dice.fm of his new special “Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999”, James returns to the podcast for two hours of insight across two episodes!  We explore the rawness of this new special, talk about his new “cool guy” costume, and discuss the pros and cons of having a right royal go at the audience.  We learn about his rejection of social media, the distance between his persona and his real self, and how in the past he’s forfeited his sanity in order not to rock the boat…“Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999” streams once at 8pm on 17th Dec wherever you are in the world (fancy!) and you can get access here:https://dice.fm/artist/james-acaster-bbx6oYou cannot follow James Acaster on social media. Everything Stu's up to:The Infinite Sofa chat show is now available as a solution to remote-working office parties over the festive period and beyond! For more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart, go to www.virtualofficeparty.co.ukStu also offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic.“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.comedyinsights.comThis podcast is @ComComPod on twitter and instagramwww.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wild man of the woods or naughty Viking uncle, Martin Mor typifies the “adventure comic”, constantly challenging and reinventing himself, with an unshakeable confidence that the world will look after him.We discover his youth - hitchhiking, busking and squatting his way round the world to a backdrop of the explosive growth in new circus and alternative comedy - and how his desire to be “a juggler without tricks” led him at last to stand-up.We also learn what charisma means, peek into his latest venture offering online mentorship to newer comics, and learn what happens when you realise you’ve told all your stories…Catch up with Martin:martinmor.com@MartinMorComedy@Martin_Mor_Comedymartinmorcomedy@gmail.com Everything Stu's up to:The Infinite Sofa chat show is now available as a solution to remote-working office parties over the festive period! Go to www.virtualofficeparty.co.uk for more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart!Stu also offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic!“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.comedyinsights.comThis podcast is @ComComPod on Twitter and Instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comStu also co-hosts the “Child Labour" parenting podcast with Sindhu Veewww.childlabourpod.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our first wrestler! A man with a firm foot in both the ring and the comedy circuit; Colt Cabana has been a pro for over 20 years, in WWE and now AEW, as well as a committed comedy collaborator with people like Brendon Burns and John Hastings.  We talk about the myriad parallels between our worlds; about mentorship and growth; whether “kayfabe” is still a thing; learning how to play character instinctively; and meeting his comic match in Japanese wrestler Toru Yano.15 minutes of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club include Colt discussing evolution over a long career, crowd work with a baby, seeking inspiration in everything, and the “fakeness” or otherwise of UFC…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much, much more!Catch up with Colt:Find Colt on Twitch: www.twitch.tv/ColtCabanaTw/IG: @ColtCabanaThe documentaries & children’s book is at COLTMERCH.comand find ”Art of Wrestling” podcast wherever the hell you get your podcasts!Everything Stu's up to:The Infinite Sofa chat show is now available as a solution to remote-working office parties over the festive period! Go to www.virtualofficeparty.co.uk for more info on how this unique concept can bring your staff together while working apart!Stu also offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic!“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.comedyinsights.comThis podcast is @ComComPod on twitter and instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comStu also co-hosts the “Child Labour" parenting podcast with Sindhu Veewww.childlabourpod.com(And the last episode of season 1, with Sara Barron, is a BELTER!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The inter-dimensional ABK is a brilliantly original comic with a penchant for wordy intelligent material that leaves no-one behind. He’s also the creator of the most absurdly wonderful animated trailer for an Edinburgh show you’ve ever seen.We talk about why he never likes to be part of a group; attention to detail and the merits of commitment; and gives his thoughts on how we get to the A-timeline…20 minutes of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club include Alasdair gives a fascinating example of using jokes as a means of hiding internal mechanics when scripting video games, and ponders potentially falling between the two stools of arty and club comedy.  Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much, much more.Catch up with ABK:www.abeckettking.comThat incredible trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kH-CfCaMl8@MisterABKEverything Stu's up to:Stu offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about resilience, especially in times of pandemic!“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.comedyinsights.comThis podcast is @ComComPod on twitter and instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comStu also co-hosts the “Child Labour" parenting podcast with Sindhu Veewww.childlabourpod.com(And the latest episode with Sara Barron is a BELTER!)Mondays 9pm BST - "The Infinite Sofa" chat showTop celebrity talent (previous guests include Dara O'Briain, Sarah Millican and Russell Howard) join Stu and 12 members of the public, in an increasingly cult-like live online performance experiment.www.infinitesofa.comTuesdays 8pm BST - "Chops" Online comedy clubwww.chopscomedy.comwww.twitch.tv/stugoldsmith Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laurie Kilmartin can make anything funny; from her superb album “45 Jokes About My Dead Dad”, a bulletproof club-fresh comedy special which doesn’t tarry with emotion, to live-tweeting the recent tragic loss of her mother to Covid-19. We learn how she found humour by turns lacerating and deeply moving, even in that awful situation.We also talk about her work as a monologue writer for Conan O’Brien, and the rhythm of pitching jokes personally and then collaborating in the last hour before showtime; how to wield disdain effectively; and why she doesn’t believe comics like to make people happy.Join the Insiders Club now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for a veritable smorgasbord of content spanning the ComCom back-catalogue, and numerous other perks.Catch up with Laurie:www.kilmartin.comLaurie’s Book: www.kilmartin.com/dead-people-suck.htmlYOU MUST FOLLOW LAURIE ON TWITTER: www.twitter.com/AnyLaurie16Everything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on twitter and instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comStu offers remote talks to business on what the distilled wisdom of over 350 comics can teach you about Resilience, especially in times of pandemic!“The most inspiring talk I’ve had in years!” (LEGO staff member)Find out more at www.comedyinsights.comStu also co-hosts the “Child Labour" parenting podcast with Sindhu Veewww.childlabourpod.comMondays 9pm BST - "The Infinite Sofa" chat showTop celebrity talent (previous guests include Dara O'Briain, Sarah Millican and Russell Howard) join Stu and 12 members of the public, in an increasingly cult-like live online performance experiment.www.infinitesofa.comTuesdays 8pm BST - "Chops" Online comedy clubwww.chopscomedy.comwww.twitch.tv/stugoldsmith Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The most successful open spot in the industry, Mat Ewins frequently leaves Stu crying with laughter, despite claiming to only have one joke…30 mins of extra content available only to Insiders has Mat skimming the story of his childhood and his unusual relationship with his siblings; considering his appearances on Harry Hill’s Club Nite and reflecting on social media, apps that catch up with his own incredible video-editing skills, WAP-enabled phones, chaos and control.  Don’t miss it - sign up today at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersDownload Mat and John Kearns’ podcast “Microscope”https://play.acast.com/s/microscopeWatch Mat on Harry Hill:www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaTsUMudD58TW: @microscopefunwww.matewins.comEverything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on twitter and instagramFind out more at www.comedianscomedian.comJoin the Insiders Club atwww.comedianscomedian.com/insidersStu speaks to your business about resilience, creativity and authenticity, more details atwww.comedyinsights.comStu also co-hosts the “Child Labour" parenting podcast with Sindhu Veewww.childlabourpod.comMondays 9pm BST - "The Infinite Sofa" chat showTop celebrity talent (previous guests include Dara O'Briain, Sarah Millican and Russell Howard) join Stu and 12 members of the public, in an increasingly cult-like live online performance experiment.www.infinitesofa.comTuesdays 8pm BST - "Chops" Online comedy clubwww.chopscomedy.comwww.twitch.tv/stugoldsmith Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Artist, comedian, provocateur and cleaner, Kim Noble is far more concerned with pursuing his artistic instinct than the trappings of success. From sneaking into B&Q dressed as staff (engaging with the customers and sometimes not even recording it), to his brilliant new podcast “Futile Attempts”, we find a man relentless in his integrity and experimentation, but sometimes adrift from the comedy community and the wider world.We learn the sometimes devastating effect of his constant recording on his personal life; find out how his mum felt about his possible exploitation of his dementia-suffering father; and talk about innocence, terror, and overstepping the line.30 minutes of extra content, available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club, includes Kim on his most recent “meltdown”; a meta chat about the pros and cons of his notion to record his appearance on the podcast and take control of the audio; the story behind “Noble and Silver” and why they split… and dread.Join now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersFind out more about Kim:www.mrkimnoble.com/futile-attempts-podcast/www.mrkimnoble.comwww.twitter.com/mrkimnobleWatch the “Noble and Silver: Get Off Me” episode filmed in one take:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDGixWJOetYEverything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on twitter and instagramFind out more at www.comedianscomedian.comJoin the Insiders Club atwww.comedianscomedian.com/insidersStu also co-hosts the “Child Labour" parenting podcast with Sindhu Veewww.childlabourpod.comMondays 9pm BST - "The Infinite Sofa" chat showTop celebrity talent (previous guests include Dara O'Briain, Sarah Millican and Russell Howard) join Stu and 12 members of the public, in an increasingly cult-like live online performance experiment.www.infinitesofa.comTuesdays 8pm BST - "Chops" Online comedy clubwww.chopscomedy.comwww.twitch.tv/stugoldsmith Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heavy-hitter Erin Foley is a sensational comic with a way of making even the gentlest observations into flint-hard punchlines.  We discuss her “terrifying but wonderful” start in standup, and how she was 8 years into her career before she began discussing her sexuality onstage.  We talk about questioning and defining success, the epic ness of performing honestly, her refusal to be a joke-pony, and the best place for the Big Gay Reveal…Join the Insiders Club now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for a bountiful array of content spanning the ComCom back-catalogue, and numerous other perks.Catch up with Erin:www.erinkfoley.com@erinfoleycomicErin’s album Deep Dive on SpotifyEverything Stu's up to:This podcast is @ComComPod on twitter and instagramwww.comedianscomedian.comStu also co-hosts the “Child Labour" parenting podcast with Sindhu Veewww.childlabourpod.comMondays 9pm BST - "The Infinite Sofa" chat showTop celebrity talent (previous guests include Dara O'Briain, Sarah Millican and Russell Howard) join Stu and 12 members of the public, in an increasingly cult-like live online performance experiment.www.infinitesofa.comTuesdays 8pm BST - "Chops" Online comedy clubwww.chopscomedy.comwww.twitch.tv/stugoldsmithWednesdays 8pm BST - "ThinkTank"A new even-more-experimental exercise in creativity, community, and throwing together a virtual bank heist under pressure.New ideas and new jeopardy every week!www.twitch.tv/stugoldsmith Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the first guests on ComCom about 8 years ago, Paul Sinha has had a rollercoaster of a life in the interim.  From fringe comedian to celebrity quizzer as “The Sinnerman” on The Chase (ITV), to a memorable appearance on Taskmaster (Dave) which came just as he was diagnosing himself with Parkinson’s disease, we catch up on how his comedy has metamorphosed from political agitation to personal story-telling.We cover how the mainstream-ification of his audiences changed his comedy; how he lost a friend to Covid-19 but managed to survive a devastating dose himself; what expectations he has of his life from now on; and why he’s a better comedian now than he’s ever been…30 minutes of extra content, available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club, includes Paul on how he refuses to think about mortality, his new style of joke-writing on Twitter, and the inside story on his performance on Taskmaster…Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much much more.Connect with Paul here:@PaulSinhawww.paulsinha.comEverything Stu's up to:"Child Labour" parenting podcast with Stuart Goldsmith & Sindhu Veewww.childlabourpod.comMondays 9pm BST - "The Infinite Sofa" chat showTop celebrity talent (previous guests include Dara O'Briain, Sarah Millican and Russell Howard) join Stu and 12 members of the public, in an increasingly cult-like live online performance experiment.www.infinitesofa.comTuesdays 8pm BST - "Chops" Online comedy clubwww.chopscomedy.comwww.twitch.tv/stugoldsmithWednesdays 8pm BST - "ThinkTank"A new even-more-experimental exercise in creativity, community, and throwing together a virtual bank heist under pressure.New ideas and new jeopardy every week!www.twitch.tv/stugoldsmith Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Hello babies, welcome to Gary Gulman…”  A comedian’s comedian in the truest sense, we discuss the making of Gary’s stand-up special/documentary “The Great Depresh”, charting a mental health journey via electroconvulsive therapy and medical ketamine, through recovery to genuine brilliance.  We learn the origin of the world’s most humble opening joke and why we should crowds credit for their vocabulary; and also cover the writing tip that’s visible if you freeze-frame a single shot of the movie, and his love of Kurt Vonnegut.45 minutes of exquisite extra content, available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club, includes Gary on his extensive writing tips for comics and why it’s impossible to use up creativity, and some behind the scenes secrets on his experiences doing spots on Conan.Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much much more!Connect with Gary here:www.garygulman.com@garygulmanStu's current endeavours:Released every Monday"Child Labour" parenting podcast with Stuart Goldsmith & Sindhu Veewww.childlabourpod.comMondays 9pm BST - "The Infinite Sofa" chat showTop celebrity talent (former guests include Dara O'Briain, Sarah Millican and Russell Howard) join Stu and 12 members of the public, in an increasingly cult-like live online performance experiment.www.infinitesofa.comTuesdays 8pm BST - "Chops" Online comedy clubHeadline acts with new material plus the cream of emerging comics, all with a live audience in the "room"www.chopscomedy.comwww.twitch.tv/stugoldsmithWednesdays 8pm BST - "ThinkTank"A new even-more-experimental exercise in creativity, community, and throwing together a virtual bank heist under pressure.New ideas and new jeopardy every week!www.twitch.tv/stugoldsmith Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Larry Dean is a phenomenal comic who doesn’t coast on his brilliant physicality, but writes hard and really gets to the kernel of what’s funny about his life.We talk about being manipulated into working hard by people who understand you, deliberately mining opportunities for embodying the jokes, and how gay audiences sometimes confuse his self-deprecation for self-hatred. We also unearth the thrill of writing for revenge…www.larrydeancomedy.comTW: @larrydeancomedy | IG: @larrydeancomedyTW: @ComComPod | IG: @ComComPodSTU GOLDSMITH’S INFINITE SOFAStu Goldsmith’s Infinite Sofa brings you the warmest and most atmospheric cure for the social-isolation blues!Forthcoming guests include Flo and Joan, Alex Horne, Ed Aczel and Thom Tuck, who with 12 members of the public join Stu for a tight 90 mins of brilliant comedy, music and variety with interactive games and big laughs. Find out more at www.infinitesofa.comCHOPS COMEDYEvery Tuesday at 8pm come and watch your favourite comics finding their sea-legs in the new world of online stand-up, with a warm and a generous studio audience, at Chops Comedy!  Forthcoming headliners include Kelly Convey, Alice Fraser, Marcus Brigstocke and Charlie George.www.chopscomedy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stand-up comic and award-nominated playwright Archie Maddocks loves stitching together routines about kebab shops and his "rough-arse" schooling, with pathos and evocative prose. We talk about writing for the comedy club and the stage, why he's the straight-man to his highly-strung family of actors, and how his play "A Place For We" has been put on hiatus by Covid-19. We also talk about how his show "Matchstick" concluded with a heartfelt examination of the Grenfell Tower fire, and why he feels that "we're not people that ever cry".You can donate to support survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire here www.grenfellfoundation.org.uk/20 minutes of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club include Archie's thoughts on why white audiences don't accept surrealism from Black comics, and how his opening line takes back control of people's preconceptions. Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much much more.TW: @ArchieMaddocks | IG: @ArchieMaddocksTW: @ComComPod | IG: @ComComPodSTU GOLDSMITH’S INFINITE SOFAEvery Monday and Thursday night at the new later time of 9pm, Stu Goldsmith’s Infinite Sofa brings you the warmest and most atmospheric cure for the social-isolation blues!Forthcoming guests include Flo and Joan, Alex Horne, Ed Aczel and Thom Tuck, who with 12 members of the public join Stu for a tight 90 mins of brilliant comedy, music and variety with interactive games and big laughs. Find out more at www.infinitesofa.comCHOPS COMEDYEvery Tuesday at 8pm come and watch your favourite comics finding their sea-legs in the new world of online stand-up, with a warm and a generous studio audience, at Chops Comedy!  Forthcoming headliners include Kelly Convey, Alice Fraser, Marcus Brigstocke and Charlie George.www.chopscomedy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lean as hell and twice as productive, Nigel Ng is coming to shame your work ethic with his radical efficiency! This hilarious UK-based Malaysian comic lets us in on how his background in data science is helping him hit hard on social media, why he knew Edinburgh reviewers wouldn't like him, why he doesn't know what "texture" means, and what it felt like to gig 5 hours after a huge personal catastrophe. But is he too efficient for his own personal life...?Join the Insiders Club for bonus material including Nigel on the specifics of his Instagram and TikTok strategies... Miss it and miss out! Sign up now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for all of the above and much more.TW: @mrnigelng | IG: @mrnigelngRice To Meet YouTW: @ComComPod | IG: @ComComPodAs per last week's post-amble, consider giving these comics a follow on Twitter:@DaneBaptweets@ninia_benjamin@funmbi@ginayashere@destheray@jamalimaddix@olathecomedian@AhirShah@paulsinha@MrNishKumar@tezilyas@dalisochaponda@athenakugblenu@abiclarkecomedySTU GOLDSMITH’S INFINITE SOFAEvery Monday and Thursday night at the new later time of 9pm, Stu Goldsmith’s Infinite Sofa brings you the warmest and most atmospheric cure for the social-isolation blues!Forthcoming guests include Rhod Gilbert, Sara Barron, Iain Stirling, Flo and Joan, and Luisa Omelian, who with 12 members of the public join Stu for an hour and a half of brilliant comedy, music and variety with interactive games and big laughs. Find out more at www.infinitesofa.comCHOPS COMEDYEvery Tuesday at 8pm come and watch your favourite comics riding their sea-legs in the new world of online stand-up, with a warm and a generous studio audience, at Chops Comedy!  Forthcoming headliners include Josie Long, Sarah Millican, Jarred Christmas, Rob Kemp, Russell Hicks and Lost Voice Guywww.chopscomedy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Catherine Cohen took home “Best Newcomer” at the Edinburgh Fringe last year, with a jaw-dropping show bursting with wit, originality and layer upon layer of irony.  Her angle of attack, mocking the audience for being so pathetically in love with her, allows her to take huge risks on stage, in a character that was grown through vast quantities of just the right sort of stage time.We talk about why she loves the occasional “stone-faced” audience-member, about playing to win and succeeding, surviving burn-out, and why she can’t stop “freaking out about absolutely everything”…Join the Insiders Club now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for all this and much much more.Catch up with Catherine Cohen:http://www.catherine-cohen.comTW: @catcohen | IG: @catccohenTW: @ComComPod | IG: @ComComPodAs per the post-amble, consider giving these comics a follow on Twitter:@DaneBaptweets@ninia_benjamin@funmbi@ginayashere@destheray@jamalimaddix@olathecomedian@AhirShah@paulsinha@MrNishKumar@tezilyas@dalisochaponda@athenakugblenuSTU GOLDSMITH’S INFINITE SOFAEvery Monday and Thursday night at the new later time of 9pm, Stu Goldsmith’s Infinite Sofa brings you the warmest and most atmospheric cure for the social-isolation blues!Forthcoming guests include Rhod Gilbert, Sara Barron, Iain Stirling, Flo and Joan, and Luisa Omelian, who with 12 members of the public join Stu for an hour and a half of brilliant comedy, music and variety with interactive games and big laughs. Find out more at www.infinitesofa.comCHOPS COMEDYEvery Tuesday at 8pm come and watch your favourite comics riding their sea-legs in the new world of online stand-up, with a warm and a generous studio audience, at Chops Comedy!  Forthcoming headliners include Josie Long, Sarah Millican, Jarred Christmas, Rob Kemp, Russell Hicks and Lost Voice Guywww.chopscomedy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

...To talk about Stu and Sindhu's new parenting podcast "Child Labour", and to listen back together to three exclusive clips from the show with interviewees Jess Fostekew, Spencer Jones and Athena Kugblenu!Subscribe to Child Labour now! Like right now, there's a trailer up that you can subscribe to and then when it launches on June 1st you'll get episode one with Arabella Weir (The Fast Show) delivered straight to your device...#childlabourpodSubscribe to the show here: https://tinyurl.com/sindhuandstu(It's a Spotify link but you'll be able to find the show on Apple by the time you hear this!)TW: @SIndhuVFunny | IG: @SindhuVeeTW: @ComComPod | IG: @ComComPodAny other business?STU GOLDSMITH’S INFINITE SOFAEvery Monday and Thursday night at the new later time of 9pm, Stu Goldsmith’s Infinite Sofa brings you the warmest and most atmospheric cure for the social-isolation blues!Forthcoming guests include Rhod Gilbert, Josh Widdicombe and Flo & Joan, who with 12 fabulous members of the public join Stu for an hour of brilliant comedy, music and variety with interactive games and big laughs. Find out more at www.infinitesofa.comCHOPS COMEDYEvery Tuesday at 8pm come and watch your favourite comics riding their sea-legs in the new world of online stand-up, with a warm and a generous studio audience, at Chops Comedy!  Forthcoming headliners include Josie Long, Sarah Millican, Jarred Christmas, Rob Kemp, Russell Hicks and Lost Voice Guywww.chopscomedy.comwww.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An intriguing and invigorating "NonComPod" this week with comedian, care home assistant and indeed care home comedian Pope Lonergan. Impressively erudite, Pope has been addicted to drugs as well as to reading about the Hawaiian judicial system; we discuss his lifelong search for transcendence, whether drug-fuelled revelations of great artists count, and how to inhabit the present.@thedailybumbler | https://anchor.fm/pope-lonerganJoin the Insiders Club now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for all this and much much more.STU GOLDSMITH’S INFINITE SOFAEvery Monday and Thursday night at the new later time of 9pm, Stu Goldsmith’s Infinite Sofa brings you the warmest and most atmospheric cure for the social-isolation blues!Forthcoming guests include Josh Widdicombe, Rhod Gilbert and Sindhu Vee, who along with 12 members of the public join Stu for an hour plus of brilliant comedy, music and variety with interactive games and big laughs. Find out more at www.infinitesofa.comCHOPS COMEDYEvery Tuesday at 8pm come and watch your favourite comics riding their sea-legs in the new world of online stand-up, with a warm and a generous studio audience, at Chops Comedy!  Forthcoming headliners include Josie Long, Sarah Millican, Jarred Christmas, Rob Kemp, Russell Hicks and Lost Voice Guywww.chopscomedy.comBCG Comedy "Pro"Here's a website for anyone who wants to start out in comedy, or progress their existing career; writers, performers and producers:  https://www.comedy.co.uk/proVisit comedy.co.uk/pro and enter the code COMCOM on the join page to get £5 off as well as supporting this podcast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At last! Brett Goldstein (movie star, comedian, writer, super-fan of ComCom and perpetual invite-swerver) drops by for a “NonComPod” that won’t expose at all how crackers he is. Sadly Stu can’t help himself and it all goes a bit “Are You Happy?” A brilliant conversation with a kind, funny, deeply handsome man, who lets us into his mind to discuss humility, boredom and workaholism - and why the comedy community is like an AIDS quilt...25 mins of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club include the backstage view of Brett’s “Films To be Buried With” podcast, how a run of terrible gigs way back during the Comedy Reserve fringe line-up show became a brutal bootcamp, and a decent chunk of Stu giving Brett unsolicited advice on how to navigate his mental health…Join the Insiders Club now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for all this and much much more.*New episodes are now streamed live at www.twitch.tv/stugoldsmith on 1pm BST every Wednesday, for release the following week*STU GOLDSMITH’S INFINITE SOFAEvery Monday and Thursday night at the new later time of 9pm, Stu Goldsmith’s Infinite Sofa brings you the warmest and most atmospheric cure for the social-isolation blues!Forthcoming guests include Nish Kumar, Suzi Ruffell, Anna Mann and Randy Feltface, who with 10 members of the public join Stu for an hour of brilliant comedy, music and variety with interactive games and big laughs. Find out more at www.infinitesofa.comCHOPS COMEDYEvery Tuesday at 8pm come and watch your favourite comics riding their sea-legs in the new world of online stand-up, with a warm and a generous studio audience, at Chops Comedy! Forthcoming headliners include Josie Long, Sarah Millican, Jarred Christmas, Rob Kemp, Russell Hicks and Lost Voice Guywww.chopscomedy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every Monday and Thursday night Stu Goldsmith’s Infinite Sofa brings you the warmest and most atmospheric cure for the social-isolation blues!This little trailer lets you eavesdrop on highlights from recent episodes with Russell Howard, Sarah Millican and Abandoman, and gives you a taste of how the whole "massively interactive" concept works. Every voice you can hear besides those three guests and Stu is a member of the public sitting "in the room" with the comedians.Forthcoming guests include Rhod Gilbert, Iain Stirling, Laura Lexx, Alfie Brown, Marcel Lucont and Anna Mann, who along with 12 members of the public join Stu for an hour of brilliant comedy, music and variety with interactive games and big laughs. Show is live online via www.infinitesofa.com every Monday and Thursday at 9pmFind out more, and join the mailing list to access the Virtual Green Room after each show, at www.infinitesofa.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*New episodes are now streamed live at www.twitch.tv/stugoldsmith on 1pm BST every Wednesday, for release the following week*Is this a regular episode or a NonComPod?  It matters not as we meet Helen Zaltzman; podcasting matriarch, mentor of Stu’s, co-host with Olly Mann of “Answer Me This”, host of the brilliant “Allusionist” podcast on the Radiotopia network, and very funny lady indeed.We talk about her comedy origins as Josie Long’s embroiderer, her childhood and the positives of knowing she was an unplanned baby, and setting one’s own parameters for success.  We also talk about language as a means of understanding the world, overcoming her own pedantry and forgiving it in others, how she wrote a successful tour show in less than a day, and why you’re Namaste-ing all wrong…25 mins of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club include a dive into the origins of Helen and Olly Mann’s “Answer Me This” podcast; how they cultivated the community now 14 years deep into their show (and passing it on to their own children), and how they broke new ground with the sorts of creative and marketing tactics that these days would make up a TED Talk.Join the Insiders Club now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for all this and much much more.helenzaltzman.com | instagram.com/helenzaltzman |twitter.com/helenzaltzmanAllusionist: theallusionist.org, twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow, instagram.com/allusionistshowVeronica Mars Investigations: VMIpod.com, twitter.com/VMIpod, instagram.com/VMIpod, facebook.com/VMIpodAnswer Me This: answermethispodcast.com, twitter.com/HelenAndOlly, facebook.com/answermethisSTU GOLDSMITH’S INFINITE... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shut up and listen to Alonzo Bodden, a towering comic who wields an absolute authority onstage! In the final pre-pandemic recording, we discover Alonzo's struggles to connect with black audiences, find out why alternative comedy doesn’t exist, and learn whether he’d accept a cure for depression if it meant giving up comedy…30 mins of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club include Alonzo’s extraordinary “missed break” after he won season three of Last Comic Standing just as cancellation of the show meant the final was never aired, how Terry Crews beat him to the punch in a big movie role, and how to go up next after a superstar… Join the Insiders Club now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for all this and much much more.STU GOLDSMITH’S INFINITE SOFAEvery Monday and Thursday night at 8pm, Stu Goldsmith’s Infinite Sofa brings you the warmest and most atmospheric cure for the social-isolation blues!Forthcoming guests include James Acaster, Romesh Ranganathan and Sarah Millican, who with 10 members of the public join Stu for an hour of brilliant comedy, music and variety with amazing guests, interactive games and big laughs. www.infinitesofa.comPROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTJoin Stu Goldsmith for a one-to-one coaching session about your comedy career or personal project.  These aren’t joke-writing sessions, more of a sort of micro-ComCom mentoring experience, to identify how you might be getting in the way of your own creativity and offer some solutions!“Stu has made me think about writing comedy in a way that I wouldn’t have considered otherwise. His mentorship allowed me to access the deep, vulnerable, and humorous truths that are actually more impactful than the surface stuff I was doing otherwise. Highly recommend.” Jasky SinghGo to www.comedianscomedian.com/lunch and book your one-to-one with Stu now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I've got two new things to promote, and I'd like your thoughts on what to do next with the podcast.  Is it still relevant to talk to comics about gigs when they can't do any? Might it all turn into soupy nostalgia? I think the circuit may undergo radical collapse and rebirth, so I'm inviting your thoughts on What I Do Next With The Pod...STU GOLDSMITH’S INFINITE SOFAEvery Monday and Thursday night at 8pm, Stu Goldsmith’s Infinite Sofa brings you the warmest and most atmospheric cure for the social-isolation blues!Forthcoming guests include James Acaster, Romesh Ranganathan and Sarah Millican, who with 10 members of the public join Stu for an hour of brilliant comedy, music and variety with amazing guests, interactive games and big laughs. www.infinitesofa.comPROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTJoin Stu Goldsmith for a one-to-one coaching session about your comedy career or personal project.  These aren’t joke-writing sessions, more of a sort of micro-ComCom mentoring experience, to identify how you might be getting in the way of your own creativity and offer some solutions!Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/lunch and book your one-to-one with Stu now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An experiment was performed in which the co-creator of Look Around You, creator and writer of Friday Night Dinner, former commissioning editor for CH4 and expert Timewaster Robert Popper was subjected to an interview.  We talk about FND and why it has become Robert’s best known work, his experience with death threats in the South Park writers room, and how he and Peter Serafinowicz rolled on the floor crying with laughter at “...thants”. Make a note in your copy books now…30 mins of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club includes Robert on his one big disagreement with the writers of Peep Show whilst working as series producer, as well as some delicious insight into the world of The Timewaster Letters, and a hilarious toolkit for your own frivolous phonecalls…  Join the Insiders Club now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for all this and much much more.www.robertpopper.com@robertpopperSTU GOLDSMITH’S INFINITE SOFAEvery Monday and Thursday night at 8pm, Stu Goldsmith’s Infinite Sofa brings you the warmest and most atmospheric cure for the social-isolation blues!10 members of the public join Stu for an hour of brilliant comedy, music and variety with amazing guests, interactive games and big laughs.  (Previous guests include Sindhu Vee, Desiree Burch, Phil Ellis and Rob Rouse, and a guy called Ian who often climbs into his own wardrobe)www.infinitesofa.comPROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTJoin Stu Goldsmith for a one-to-one coaching session about your comedy career or personal project.  These aren’t joke-writing sessions, more of a sort of micro-ComCom mentoring experience, to identify how you might be getting in the way of your own creativity and offer some solutions!“Thank you so much for what was an incredibly productive, useful and thought provoking working lunch/therapy session” - Ben Milden“Stu instantly put any nerves I had at bay, we spoke about many aspects of comedy and I found it be really beneficial, if you’re considering trying one of these sessions don’t hesitate! 10/10” - Jon MeehanGo to www.comedianscomedian.com/lunch and book your one-to-one with Stu now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The hardest-working man in UK comedy, Scott Bennett is tipped for imminent breakthrough to the mainstream, so you won’t be surprised to hear that he grasped the pandemic nettle and started performing online stand-up shows from his shed pretty much on day one. We talk about sacrificing a proper career to become a comic in his thirties, and how he processes the guilt he feels at following his dream, the “elastic limit” he has with his audience, doubling down on your best bits, and that old enemy, too much polish…20 mins of extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club include Scott going into detail on his toolkit for observational comedy, and the nuance of how he writes with other people, including Rob Brydon, Daliso Chaponda and Jason Manford - how does it change his voice and creativity to step into the shoes of another act?As the live comedy circuit undergoes a painful transformation into some unknown new form, there HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME to keep the podcast alive and get hold of oodles of sweet extra content (including the new special episode about The Great Pivot with ComCom Consultant Pete Dobbing) with a regular subscription. Join now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersFollow Scott:www.scottbennettcomedy.co.ukTW: @scottbcomedyuk | IG: @scottbcomedyukStand up from the shed: www.facebook.com/scottybcomedytour www.scottbennettcomedy.co.uk/tour.htmlScott's album "One Night In Dudley":ItunesSpotifyJoin Stu Goldsmith for a Working Lunch coaching session about your comedy, career or personal project:“Thank you so much for what was an incredibly productive, useful and thought provoking working lunch/therapy session” - Ben Milden“Stu instantly put any nerves I had at bay, we spoke about many aspects of comedy and I found it be really beneficial, if you’re considering trying one of these sessions don’t hesitate! 10/10” - Jon MeehanGo to www.comedianscomedian.com/lunch to book your one-to-one online lunch-date with Stu. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Special mini episode with very funny and thoughtful comic Alexander Bennett on: recovering from a dose of Covid-19, isolating in a new flat with a french woman he doesn't know, and what positives the human race may one day discover after the pandemic.www.twitter.com/AlexyBennettwww.alexanderbennettcomedian.comko-fi.com/alexanderbennettJoin the ComCom Insider's Club here: www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersBook a Working Lunch with Stu Goldsmith here: www.comedianscomedian.com/lunchJoin the ComCom Facebook group here: www.facebook.com/groups/ComediansComedianPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*This episode was recorded before the pandemic if you’re looking for a breath of fresh air*A tub-thumping powerhouse of a comedian basking in a laidback rhythm, Robby Collins is a devoted student of comedy.  We talk about how he made his obsession into his art, from renting and re-renting DVDs of the greats as a youth, to opening for Trevor Noah on world tours. We also cover re-learning how to socialise outside the industry, and the long road to making comedy out of the suicide attempt of a family member…25 mins worth of extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club include Robby going into detail on the lessons he learnt from opening for Trevor Noah and Dave Chapelle, how to make an audience come to you, and how to cut out all the waiting time between thought and performance.TW: @robbycollins_ | IG: @robbycollins_As the live comedy circuit undergoes a painful transformation into some unknown new form, there HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME to keep the podcast alive and get hold of oodles of sweet extra content (including the new special episode about The Great Pivot with ComCom Consultant Pete Dobbing) with a regular subscription.  Join now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersJoin Stu Goldsmith for a Working Lunch!  Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/lunch to book your one-to-one social or professional online lunch date with Stu.“Thank you so much for what was an incredibly productive, useful and thought provoking working lunch/therapy session” - comedian Ben Milden@comcompod | @stugoldsmith Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The co-host and co-creator of Dara O Briain's Go 8 Bit, Steve McNeil started his career in sketch comedy, and has enjoyed an invigoratingly twisty journey through multiple genres, currently specialising as a twitch gamer and host, with new project #WiFiWars gathering momentum online as we speak. We talk about his pivot away from TV, the single most agonising factor that led to the demise of "Go 8 Bit", his new special "Hey Listen!" and his recent battles with his mental health.30 mins of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club focuses Steve's tips and tricks for growing an audience on Twitch, and what comics can expect to find when trying to explore that fertile territory! Sign up now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders#WiFiWars@WiFiWarsUKSteve's special on GFS https://gofasterstripe.com/heylistenhttps://twitter.com/stevemcneilhttps://www.twitch.tv/stevefromgo8bithttps://www.twitch.tv/team/thestreamcreamdreamteamAs the live comedy circuit undergoes a painful transformation into some unknown new form, there HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME to keep the podcast alive and get hold of oodles of sweet extra content (including the new special episode about The Great Pivot with ComCom Consultant Pete Dobbing) with a regular subscription. Join now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersAnd join Stu Goldsmith for a Working Lunch!  Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/lunch to book your one-to-one social, or professional, online lunch date with Stu!@comcompod | @stugoldsmith Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a podcast recorded in a less frightening time (about a fortnight ago) Desiree Burch talks us through her upbringing and development to becoming the powerful and hyper-eloquent comic force she is today. We talk about seeking connection, the protective shell of comedy, finding acceptance but to white standards, and why her tremendous debut poster was a literal collage of dick pics. 30 mins worth of extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club include Desiree’s very inspiring thoughts on being her own boss and recognising her own value, and a deep dive into her last show “Desiree’s Coming Early” which used a twin narrative to reframe her personal history, whilst being incredibly funny…As the live comedy circuit undergoes a painful transformation into some unknown new form, there HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME to keep the podcast alive and get hold of oodles of sweet extra content (including the new special episode about The Great Pivot with ComCom Consultant Pete Dobbing) with a regular subscription.  Join now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersAnd join Stu Goldsmith for a Working Lunch!  Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/lunch to book your one-to-one social or professional online lunch date with Stu!@destheray |www.desireeburch.comwww.comedianscomedian.com | @comcompod | @stugoldsmith Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the face of an unprecedented pandemic, most listeners will soon be confined to isolation of one sort or another. Stu tries to make himself and hopefully you feel better about the overwhelming challenges ahead. How can we stay resilient, positive, and maybe creative during this bewildering and frightening time?Support the podcast by joining the Insiders Club today. Sign up at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to access all the extras from past episodes, the workspace app, and the new special episode about pivoting to online work with ComCom Consultant Pete Dobbing.Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/lunch to book an internet one-to-one lunch date with Stu. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Superb comedian, thrilling storyteller and born survivor Janey Godley not only answers back to her online death-threats, but publishes her whereabouts with an open invitation to "come and have a go". We talk about how she thrived despite abuse, poverty and alcoholism in her upbringing; detail her absolute conviction in the power of honesty; and learn how an early experience at the Edinburgh Fringe led her to reject the comedy industry and focus instead on her audience.  CW: We talk about abuse Janey suffered as a child, at the very start of this show, and throughout.25 mins of extras available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club include Janey on how her refusal to play along led to her being banned from a chain of comedy clubs; how she approaches publicising criminal connections whilst keeping her own nose clean; the ramifications of her husband’s autism, and the glee she feels at her daughter Ashley Storrie’s success in the comedy world. Join now and support the show at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersThanks to the Stand Newcastlewww.janeygodley.com | @janeygodleyJaney Godley’s Soup Pot Tour is on right now - tickets available through her website Stuart Goldsmith's Edinburgh Fringe show "The Void" is on sale now at tinyurl.com/stu2020 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The godfather of British alternative comedy, Alexei Sayle is always at the edge of catastrophe. The star of The Young Ones, Alexei Sayle’s Stuff, The Comic Strip Presents, many more and now his Imaginary Sandwich Bar, gets stuck into why inauthenticity is his bugbear, how to make the most of creative discomfort, the earliest days of the Comedy Store, and the transition from counterculture to national treasure.In 30 mins of extras available only to the Insiders Club, Alexei talks about his real feelings towards Ben Elton, and the current crop of arena comics; how he re-fit his show about political optimism when the wind changed; and identifies a link between standup and martial arts regarding the energy of the audience and his own… Available now only at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersSee Alexei on tour now! Details at www.alexeisayle.meThanks to Ellen Frost at Bloomsbury Theatre @bloomstheatreStuart Goldsmith's Edinburgh Fringe show "The Void" is onside now at tinyurl.com/stu2020 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eshaan Akbar has an extremely diverse comic portfolio. This former wealth manager and government policy maker is now a successful TV comedian with a significant career in the making. We talk about his very precise ambitions and his fascination with the absolute freedom of the stage, as well as his disappointment in finding out that comedy is no longer anti-establishment and that comedians are “a precious bunch”. We also touch on Eshaan’s suicide attempt, and get stuck into the tremendous difficulty of exploring a serious emotional topic using comedy.*Content warning: mention of suicide*In 30 mins of extras available only to the Insiders Club, Eshaan outlines some fascinating and unique parallels with comedy from his former careers. He portrays different types of jokes by comparing them to bitcoin, treasury bonds and investments (which if you already know about jokes works neatly as a primer in finance) and explores links between policy making and comedy, via analysis of two very different ideas about “audience”. Quintessential ComCom, available now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiderswww.eshaanakbar.com | @eshaanakbarCatch Eshaan at Soho Theatre, 7th-11th April 2020:sohotheatre.com/shows/eshaan-akbar-infidel-ityGet tickets for Stu's tour:28/02/20Cambridge Junctionwww.comedianscomedian.com | @comcompod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seann Walsh is an extraordinary observational comic, with a phenomenal talent for getting to the heart of the funny in the most everyday topics, and enlivening a routine with act-outs.We talk about how his persona changed from open mics to big rooms, and how he strove for authenticity, despite the looming feeling that something was missing from his impressive TV career. Just when this outsider among outsiders seemed finally about to break big, in 2018 he appeared on Strictly Come Dancing (BBC) and pictures surfaced of him kissing his dance partner. We discuss the tabloid uproar and the accusations that followed, and the effect they had on his life and work.40mins of extras available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club include Seann on being unsettled by the aggressive environment on panel shows, getting kicked out of college and the cosiness of melancholy; his unique DIY technique for ridding oneself of nervous energy pre-show; and why any future set on Conan (TBS) will be very different to his first one...Join today at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@SeannWalsh | seannwalsh.comGet tickets for Stu's tour:28/02/20Cambridge Junction Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A man on a mission, comedian and academic Dr Matt Winning is an expert on climate change and on making the apocalypse funny. We explore how to make a show educational without being worthy, finding purpose in struggle, and how to survive as a comic when you’re not motivated to quit your day job. We also dig into the maintenance of optimism when your crises are about something a little more meaningful than comedy, and gloss over the difference between polar bears and pall-bearers…25 mins of extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club include Matt on “coming out” as a scientist in comedy, how his love of the surreal clashes with the mainstream direction of his mission, and we get a morsel of the inside story on the infamous “Bearpit Podcast Podcast”. Join now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersmattwinning.com | @mattywin85Get tickets for Stu's tour:28/02/20Cambridge Junction Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Twins Randy and Jason Sklar blow audiences away with their extraordinarily layered stand-up, weaving their delivery alongside, through and around each other’s voices; sparring, arguing and then dropping into perfect sync on a punchline.  We get stuck into their writing process, the difficulties of working as a team when their family lives don’t sync as easily as their creative lives, the challenge of identifying a target audience when you straddle mainstream and alternative, and why the “ball don’t lie”…25 mins of extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club include how Randy and Jason approach Roast Battles, why they love tagging jokes and the TV pitch it inspired, and we find out which twin is the happiest. We also get an insight into their episode of NPR podcast “This American Life”, when they were made aware of a genuinely mind-blowing possibility about their identities as twins. Join now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersTW: @SklarBrothers | IG: @SklarBrothersGet tickets for Stu's tour:07/02/20Farnham Maltings11/02/20York – The Basement12/02/20Leeds – Hyde Park Book Club28/02/20Cambridge Junctionwww.comedianscomedian.com | @comcompod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A juggernaut of charisma and filth, Ninia Benjamin has a supernatural connection to her audience and a mind like a firework display. We discuss why she won’t ever explain her race or size, only her point of view, and how she moved beyond the onstage anger that used to motivate her.  We also dig deep into her career rebirth after an ‘annus horribilis’ brought about by professional struggles and her own impostor syndrome.  This far into her career, can she finally accept herself as a “proper comedian”?Extras include Ninia on writing for Aladdin and what she sang to Will Smith, a deep-dive into why she identifies writing comedy with “homework”, and a full on pep-talk from Stu about exactly how she should attack the Edinburgh festival… Access them, and all other extra content, by singing up the Insiders Club at  www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersIG: @ninia_benjamin | TW: @ninia_benjaminGet tickets for Stu's tour:01/02/20Newcastle Stand (early show – 5pm)02/02/20Glasgow – The Stand07/02/20Farnham Maltings11/02/20York – The Basement12/02/20Leeds – Hyde Park Book Club28/02/20Cambridge Junction Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A master of "pulling back into the wide angle", Jamali Maddix thrives on big routines about big subjects, letting his innate comic ability run riot. We talk about the pressures of keeping up hit-rate within routines, and get technical about top-lines, and why he wants the premise of a bit to be more intelligent than he is himself. But what happens when you lose sight of your goals in the process of following the next apparently logical step?30 mins of extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club include Jamali going deep into the production of his Vice TV smash "Hate Thy Neighbour", which saw him write an hour of comedy in three days, sixteen times, whilst avoiding being killed by neo-Nazis. We also cover how to extract laughter from horrific things, and find the fertile ground between outrage and consensus...Join now at comedianscomedian.com/insiderswww.jamalimaddix.comTW: @jamalimaddix | IG: @jamalimaddixGet tickets for Stu's tour:25/01/20Corsham – The Pound Arts Centre01/02/20Newcastle Stand (early show – 5pm)02/02/20Glasgow – The Stand07/02/20Farnham Maltings11/02/20York – The Basement12/02/20Leeds – Hyde Park Book Club28/02/20Cambridge Junction Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The only comic ever to have consecutively won Best Newcomer and Best Show at the Edinburgh Fringe, John Kearns is a master at finding pathos in the prosaic, combining clowning and standup in a way that makes absolutely no sense written down. With influences from Jacques Tati to Neil Hamburger, we explore his sense of place within himself, overreaching in his writing, and ambition in his career...Thirty minutes of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club includes John's brilliant technique for underpinning all his material with genuine pathos, and delves into writing for Harry Hill, meeting Chris Morris, and how the spotlight can burn...@johnsfurcoat Get tickets for Stu's tour:04/12/19Aldershot – The West End Centre25/01/20Corsham – The Pound Arts Centre01/02/20Newcastle Stand (early show – 5pm)02/02/20Glasgow – The Stand07/02/20Farnham Maltings11/02/20York – The Basement12/02/20Leeds – Hyde Park Book Club28/02/20Cambridge Junctionwww.comedianscomedian.com | @comcompod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A semi-forensic vivisection of my Conan appearance and LA junket; a small reward for those of you inclined to learn more about the experience... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Returning to stand-up this month with a run at Soho Theatre, after many years working on other projects including his sitcom Plebs, Tom Basden is inventive and prolific, also handsome. We talk about the parallels between the superb musical comedy that won him Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh fringe and his new stand-up, discover Tom's English middle-class-ness and why he's very suited to telling some "guys" to "calm down", and explore whether his work ethic is pathological...Extras exclusively available to the Insiders Club include some really specific insight into the structuring and writing of Tom's sitcom "Plebs", and the dangers of mining real life events for comedy, and Stu railing at the injustice of how the TV sketch show "Cowards" didn't become better known. Join the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersFind details and tickets for Tom's imminent Soho Theatre run:13/01/2014/01/2015/01/2016/01/20 17/01/20 18/01/20 tombasden.comGet tickets for Stu's tour:04/12/19Aldershot – The West End Centre25/01/20Corsham – The Pound Arts Centre01/02/20Newcastle Stand (early show – 5pm)02/02/20Glasgow – The Stand07/02/20Farnham Maltings11/02/20York – The Basement12/02/20Leeds – Hyde Park Book Club28/02/20Cambridge Junctionwww.comedianscomedian.com | @Comcompod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Christmas Special, we speak to the actual Santa Claus, via his little helper and confidant, consummate clown Herbie Treehead. Herbie is a phenomenal street-performer, known around the world for his joyful daftness, silly songs and funny bones.We talk about what his first Santa season means to him, and discover an enormously rich and respectful seam of kindness and good cheer. We also dive into Herbie's origins as a performer and his maverick work within vaudeville troupe Slightly Fat Features; learn how to steal a lorry; and reflect on the nature and cost of real performative risk...www.herbietreehead.infowww.slightlyfatfeatures.comGet ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu's tour:25/01/20Corsham – The Pound Arts Centre01/02/20Newcastle Stand (early show – 5pm)02/02/20Glasgow – The Stand07/02/20Farnham Maltings11/02/20York – The Basement12/02/20Leeds – Hyde Park Book Club28/02/20Cambridge Junctionwww.comedianscomedian.com | @ComcompodHappy Christmas one and all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Flo and Joan are a uniquely funny musical duo, with deadpan front-cloth patter rooted in their actual siblinghood. We talk about going from open mics to a special on Amazon Prime in just four years, get the inside story on their recent gig at the Royal Variety Performance, and learn why going viral makes you turn your phone off. We also discover what they learnt from the Canadian improv scene that underpins the whole shebang, and find out why shaking an egg is harder than it looks...Thirty minutes of extras exclusive to the Insiders Club include a directorial tip that helped them trend on twitter on their first opening weekend; the backstage story on the Nationwide telly adverts that blew up and resulted in death threats; a look at the devilishly cunning improv-style narrative structure that forms the backbone of their special; plus the girls' analysis of each other's strengths and weaknesses!And some burps.Join up today at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersTour info at floandjoan.comSoho Theatre run starts 13th JanTW: @floandjoan | IG: @floandjoanGet tickets for Stu's tour:25/01/20Corsham – The Pound Arts Centre01/02/20Newcastle Stand (early show – 5pm)02/02/20Glasgow – The Stand07/02/20Farnham Maltings11/02/20York – The Basement12/02/20Leeds – Hyde Park Book Club28/02/20Cambridge Junctionwww.comedianscomedian.com | @Comcompod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Star of his own sitcom "Jerk" (BBC) and a gleefully discomforting stand-up, Tim Renkow makes his point with devastating wit. We talk about how people's exploitation of Tim's physical vulnerability has shaped his outlook and work, learn how his dispassion towards his audience's reaction makes him a stronger comic, and find out why he would rather be alone in a wood with a shotgun.Content warning: strong language and discussion of sexual abuse.Members of the Insiders Club can enjoy 20 mins of extra content with Tim giving us his analysis of the four types of Edinburgh fringe shows, precisely why he doesn't like award-winning shows, and what great idea he only tried saying on stage once...All of that, plus all the extras from every show which has them, exclusively available to members of the Insiders Club. Join today at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersFB: TimRenkowcomedy | TW: @TimRenkowComedyGet tickets for Stu's tour:25/01/20Corsham – The Pound Arts Centre01/02/20Newcastle Stand (early show – 5pm)02/02/20Glasgow – The Stand07/02/20Farnham Maltings11/02/20York – The Basement12/02/20Leeds – Hyde Park Book Club28/02/20Cambridge Junctionwww.comedianscomedian.com | @Comcompod*NEW* Check out Stu's new corporate resilience training monolith at www.comedyinsights.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"America's Funnyman" Neil Hamburger is the disturbing comic creation of Gregg Turkington; deeply funny, vile and poignant in equal measure. Ordinarily reluctant to talk about his alter-ego, Gregg gradually uncovers his love for outsider art, and the qualities he considers genius. We learn about the origins of Neil in prank phone calls and fake live shows, the comedy he can't stand and why, and the utterly original concept behind his live albums.Over 30mins of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club include Gregg on being booed onto the stage supporting Tenacious D at Reading Festival, and how it meant no more to him than a crowd at Madison Square Garden chanting his name! We also learn the surprising basis to whom he won't attack and why, and find out why he considers interviews pointless... Support the show today with a recurring donation and receive your access to the Insiders Club private podcast at www.comedianscomedians.com/insiderswww.americasfunnyman.com | @NeilHamburgerGet tickets for Stu's tour:04/12/19Aldershot – The West End Centre25/01/20Corsham – The Pound Arts Centre01/02/20Newcastle Stand (early show – 5pm)02/02/20Glasgow – The Stand07/02/20Farnham Maltings11/02/20York – The Basement12/02/20Leeds – Hyde Park Book Club28/02/20Cambridge Junctionwww.comedianscomedian.com | @ComcompodWeirdos Save Christmas Content Web Series from Turtle Canyon#ContentWebSeries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inspirational, irascible and as talented an improvisor as you could invent, Matt Besser is the kind of stand-up who can skilfully weave a set live on TV. He is also constantly referred to as a co-founder of the enormously significant Upright Citizens Brigade, which arguably serves him right for co-founding it. We take a deep dive into the genesis of the Chicago improv scene, learn about Del Close and his influence on everything that was to follow, and argue about Keith Johnstone. Matt also dissects his own bad habits in improv, ponders the relativity of success, and identifies the one type of comic he won't perform with...  Matt Besser's brand new stand-up special "Pot Humour" is out now on Apple/iTunes, Amazon, DirectTV VOD, Spectrum VOD, Xbox and pretty much every VOD platform you might use.  His podcast Improv4Humans is available wherever podcasts are found.www.mattbesser.comTW: @mattbesser | IG: @mattbesser Get tickets for Stu's tour:04/12/19Aldershot – The West End Centre25/01/20Corsham – The Pound Arts Centre01/02/20Newcastle Stand (early show – 5pm)02/02/20Glasgow – The Stand07/02/20Farnham Maltings11/02/20York – The Basement12/02/20Leeds – Hyde Park Book Club28/02/20Cambridge Junctionwww.comedianscomedian.com | @Comcompod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Combining all the best elements of a DIY approach to touring, a powerhouse comic ability, and some ridiculous positivity of mind, Carl Hutchinson is on the up. We talk about relatability, rooting your material in your own embarrassment and some nifty tricks to conceal your observations as something else. We also get stuck into some of the notable missteps that glance off his robust sense of self, and explore how Carl copes with being regarded by some as the sidekick to a higher profile act...Sign up for the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to get access to all the extra content from any episode that has it, plus loads of extra stuff on a special private podcast!carlhutchinson.net | @CPHutchinsonTickets and info for Carl's tourGet tickets for Stu's tour:08/11/19Bristol – The Comedy Box at the Hen and Chicken04/12/19Aldershot – The West End Centre25/01/20Corsham – The Pound Arts Centre01/02/20Newcastle Stand (early show – 5pm)02/02/20Glasgow – The Stand07/02/20Farnham Maltings11/02/20York – The Basement12/02/20Leeds – Hyde Park Book Club28/02/20Cambridge Junctionwww.comedianscomedian.com | @Comcompod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

YouTube-famous glam-rock showpig Chris Fleming has amassed a legion of fans through his brilliantly funny music videos, such as "I'm Afraid To Talk To Men", "Grad-Student Shuffle" and "Polyamorous". We talk about how he found himself drowning in stand-up, and clawed his way back to shore through developing his live work for the internet. We also discuss proving one isn't "a YouTuber", the "restrictive freedom" of comedy, and whether he's a real pariah or just a wannabe...30mins of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club includes Chris on his contemporaries from the early days and what it feels like now there are "more freaks than bros" in comedy; his mantra for self-confidence; some more powerful insights into the nature of online comedy; and what he'd do if the internet broke.Join today at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersChris Fleming on YouTube | chrisflemingfleming.comFB: chrisflemingfleming | IG: @chrisflemingfleming | TW: @chrisflumingGet tickets for Stu's tour:04/11/19Nottingham Glee Club08/11/19Bristol – The Comedy Box at the Hen and Chicken04/12/19Aldershot – The West End Centre25/01/20Corsham – The Pound Arts Centre01/02/20Newcastle Stand (early show – 5pm)02/02/20Glasgow – The Stand07/02/20Farnham Maltings11/02/20York – The Basement12/02/20Leeds – Hyde Park Book Club28/02/20Cambridge Junctionwww.comedianscomedian.com | @Comcompod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A captivating comic with enormous mass appeal, Jimeoin has built a career across the UK and Australia, dancing lightly through absolute silliness and rock solid punchlines. We talk backstage after his barnstorming Edinburgh show about harnessing daftness, the creative benefits of sitting alone in a dark room and how easy it is to become a monster when you get your own TV show at 24 years old...Sign up for the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to get access to all the extra content from any episode that has it, plus loads of extra stuff on a special private podcast!www.jimeoin.com | @jimeoinGet tickets for Stu's tour:25/10/19Teignmouth Pavillions26/10/19Swindon Arts Centre04/11/19Nottingham Glee Club08/11/19Bristol – The Comedy Box at the Hen and Chicken04/12/19Aldershot – The West End Centre25/01/20Corsham – The Pound Arts Centre01/02/20Newcastle Stand (early show – 5pm)02/02/20Glasgow – The Stand07/02/20Farnham Maltings11/02/20York – The Basement12/02/20Leeds – Hyde Park Book Club28/02/20Cambridge Junctionwww.comedianscomedian.com | @Comcompod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Multiple international award-winning physical comedy duo The Kagools are an explosion of pure silliness, that don't conform even to the "rules" of contemporary clowning, let alone straight standup. Double-act Nicky Wilkinson and Claire Ford describe their amazingly supportive relationship, and outline the highs and lows of a life under lightweight waterproof material...Sign up for the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to get access to all the extra content from any episode that has it, plus loads of extra stuff on a special private podcast!www.thekagools.com | @TheKagoolsGet tickets for Stu's tour: 25/10/19Teignmouth Pavillions26/10/19Swindon Arts Centre04/11/19Nottingham Glee Club08/11/19Bristol – The Comedy Box at the Hen and Chicken04/12/19Aldershot – The West End Centre25/01/20Corsham – The Pound Arts Centre01/02/20Newcastle Stand (early show – 5pm)02/02/20Glasgow – The Stand07/02/20Farnham Maltings11/02/20York – The Basement12/02/20Leeds – Hyde Park Book Club28/02/20Cambridge Junctionwww.comedianscomedian.com | @Comcompod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach Zucker and Viggo Venn and their permanent director and co-creator Jonny Woolley are like a mainline injection of a comedy drug that hasn't been invented yet. This trio has been around the world four times at some disgustingly young age, winning awards and crazed fans, and revelling in mistakes, misadventures and madness.We talk about their first Edinburgh and how they snatched victory from the jaws of a 10 month old baby, explore their solo work, including Zach's "Jack Tucker" character and his unique relationship with live direction and sound cues, and discuss breaking the rules, winding the Late N Live audience up on purpose, and getting good at being bad. You get the whole 90 min interview in this episode, but you can sign up for the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to get access to all the extra content from any episode that has it, plus loads of extra stuff on a special private podcast!Discover more on Zach and Viggo at www.zachandviggo.comwww.stamptowncomedy.com@zach_viggoFind Stu's tour dates at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour11/10/19Northampton Royal and Derngate25/10/19Teignmouth Pavillions26/10/19Swindon Arts Centre04/11/19Nottingham Glee Club08/11/19Bristol – The Comedy Box at the Hen and Chicken04/12/19Aldershot – The West End Centre25/01/20Corsham – The Pound Arts Centre01/02/20Newcastle Stand (early show – 5pm)02/02/20Glasgow – The Stand07/02/20Farnham Maltings11/02/20York – The Basement12/02/20Leeds – Hyde Park Book Club28/02/20Cambridge JunctionHi Davy, I respect you.comedianscomedian.com | @comcompod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sofie Hagen is a remarkable comedian, who is arguably better known at present for her activism than her excellent work in comedy. We talk about the incredible think-tank of the small Danish circuit where she started out, and the toxicity she discovered therein; her insightful analysis of how "losers win" at the Edinburgh festival; the dual purpose of having gender neutral toilets at her shows; and get stuck into some very frank discussion of the social activism element of her profile... and exactly what it's cost her.45 mins of extra material available exclusively to the Insiders Club includes her opening gambit of reading all the comedy books, and how her process features infinite whiteboards and structural skeletons. We also dive into the delicate balance between trauma, therapy and confessional shows, and the mistake she made that she was too late in noticing to fix... All available now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersTickets and info for Sofie's current tour can be found HERE.sofiehagen.com | @SofieHagenCatch the second leg of Stu's "End Of" tour show:05/10/19Edinburgh Stand (early show – 5pm)06/10/19Aberdeen Comedy Festival11/10/19Northampton Royal and Derngate25/10/19Teignmouth Pavillions26/10/19Swindon Arts Centre04/11/19Nottingham Glee Club05/11/19Birmingham Glee Club08/11/19Bristol – The Comedy Box at the Hen and Chicken04/12/19Aldershot – The West End Centre25/01/20Corsham – The Pound Arts Centre01/02/20Newcastle Stand (early show – 5pm)02/02/20Glasgow – The Stand07/02/20Farnham Maltings28/02/20Cambridge Junctioncomedianscomedian.com | @ComComPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sara Barron is a relentlessly honest and desperately funny comic, relating brutal and sometimes filthy truths in a warm and welcoming way. We talk about how her background in the storytelling organisation "The Moth" showcases her innate skill with story structure, and cover starting comedy late, starting comedy twice, and why the audacity to admit your book might suck is a powerful weapon...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiderssarabarron.com | @sarabarronCatch the second leg of Stu's "End Of" tour show:05/10/19Edinburgh Stand (early show – 5pm)06/10/19Aberdeen Comedy Festival11/10/19Northampton Royal and Derngate25/10/19Teignmouth Pavillions26/10/19Swindon Arts Centre04/11/19Nottingham Glee Club05/11/19Birmingham Glee Club08/11/19Bristol – The Comedy Box at the Hen and Chicken04/12/19Aldershot – The West End Centre25/01/20Corsham – The Pound Arts Centre01/02/20Newcastle Stand (early show – 5pm)02/02/20Glasgow – The Stand07/02/20Farnham Maltings28/02/20Cambridge Junctioncomedianscomedian.com | @ComComPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An exclusive conversation with the man behind (and underneath) "Randy", a searingly honest, multi-layered and genuinely brilliant standup comedian who happens to be a purple felt puppet. A multiple international award-winner and nominee, Heath has never felt comfortable talking as himself, but finally gave into Stu's overtures at Just For Laughs Montreal. We talk about the gap between truth and fiction, vulnerability and addiction, and what it feels like to expose your true self whilst staying hidden.30mins of extra content available to members of the Insiders Club include Randy's secret origins (fictional and actual), how Heath writes a show in a week, the confessional element of his show "Randy Is Sober", and what it looks like under whatever Randy is appearing on top of... Join now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@RandyFeltface | feltface.comCatch the second leg of Stu's "End Of" tour show:05/10/19Edinburgh Stand (early show – 5pm)06/10/19Aberdeen Comedy Festival11/10/19Northampton Royal and Derngate25/10/19Teignmouth Pavillions26/10/19Swindon Arts Centre04/11/19Nottingham Glee Club05/11/19Birmingham Glee Club08/11/19Bristol – The Comedy Box at the Hen and Chicken04/12/19Aldershot – The West End Centre25/01/20Corsham – The Pound Arts Centre01/02/20Newcastle Stand (early show – 5pm)02/02/20Glasgow – The Stand07/02/20Farnham Maltings28/02/20Cambridge JunctionThe excellent Roast Battle Podcast with Stu squaring off against Dave Hill (episode 41) can be found HEREcomedianscomedian.com | @ComComPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host of Live at the Apollo, and with her own Netflix special under her belt, not to mention The Mash Report and appearances on QI and Mock The Week, Ellie Taylor is a born comedian who revels in the dynamic between glamour and grotesque. We discuss her unique introduction to comedy via reality show, how her happy life outside of comedy protects her, the weird science of writing and why she "can't do clever topics"...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersEllie is on tour with her new show "Don't Got This" from 26th September, get tickets and info here: https://www.livenation.co.uk/artist/ellie-taylor-ticketswww.ellietaylorcomedy.com | @elliejanetaylorCatch the second leg of Stu's "End Of" tour show:05/10/19Edinburgh Stand (early show – 5pm)06/10/19Aberdeen Comedy Festival11/10/19Northampton Royal and Derngate25/10/19Teignmouth Pavillions26/10/19Swindon Arts Centre04/11/19Nottingham Glee Club05/11/19Birmingham Glee Club08/11/19Bristol – The Comedy Box at the Hen and Chicken04/12/19Aldershot – The West End Centre25/01/20Corsham – The Pound Arts Centre01/02/20Newcastle Stand (early show – 5pm)02/02/20Glasgow – The Stand07/02/20Farnham Maltings28/02/20Cambridge Junctioncomedianscomedian.com | @ComComPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rob Auton is a revelation; a comic like no other. His superbly funny and intensely thoughtful shows take a single topic like "Hair", "Time", or "Sleep" and dig for real meaning in those concepts, to hilarious and even profound effect. We talk about his love of thinking, the poetry in a football pass, the collaging skills of Kanye West, and why comedy really does mean the world to him.30 mins of extra content available to members of the Insiders Club include some emotional reflection on mental health, masculinity and sensitivity. Not to be missed, and available only to subscribers at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders, along with all other extra content from every episode that has it...robauton.co.uk | @RobertAutonDates and tickets for my forthcoming tour can be found here.@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Winner of the 2019 "Comedian's Choice" award for Best Show, as voted for by fellow comics, Joz Norris is an imaginative and very funny mainstay of the UK's alternative comedy scene. He talks live at the Monkey Barrel comedy club about his character "Mr Fruit Salad", and how an attempt to fall back in love with comedy and the fringe after a period of exhaustion, resulted in the creation of a fictional chimera as a form of self-care...Join the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to access extra material from any podcast that has it, plus loads of extra strands that Stu can get back into creating, now that Edinburgh is paid to rest for a few months...joznorris.co.uk | @JozNorrisDates and tickets for my forthcoming tour can be found here.@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Flawless in delivery, bubbling over with jokes, and with something real and compassionate to say, Suzi Ruffell is at the peak of her powers. We talk about: her latest Edinburgh fringe show "Dance Like Everyone's Watching"; making sure that LGBTQ+ people in the audience feel seen; how punishing she found being a new act (and whether she could do it all again); and why she finds happiness terrifying.Extras available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club include Suzi on her dos and don'ts of tour support, having worked extensively with Josh Widdicombe, Romesh Ranganathan and Kevin Bridges, as well as her thoughts on what makes a good director, and the best advice she was ever given... Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to support the podcast with a regular monthly donation of your choice. Every level gets the same stuff, you pay what you think is appropriate.suziruffell.com | @suziruffellGet tickets for Suzi's Edinburgh show hereTickets for my show Primer at this year's Edinburgh Fringe@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vikki Stone is a polymentalist, which is like a polymath for instruments. You'll all be using it soon... Combining pinpoint observations with an innate compositional ability, not to mention all those tangible musical skills, she's underscoring set-ups and key-changing punchlines until your ribs hurt. We talk about side-hustles, captivity and the tricks of the trade, and find out why you're wrong about panto...Tickets for Vikki's show Song Bird at the Ed Fringewww.vikkistone.com | @VikkiStoneTickets for my show Primer at this year's Edinburgh Fringe@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The giddily funny star of Crashing, You Made It Weird and his eponymous sketch and chat show, Pete Holmes lets his effervescent personality bubble over from the word go. We talk about his unerring ability to make the insanity of existence as funny as it is accessible, uncover how to embrace the coolness of uncoolness, and basically learn the meaning of life. This one is just amazing, enjoy!peteholmes.com | @peteholmesTickets for my show Primer at this year's Edinburgh Fringe@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jayde Adams is a superstar in waiting; talented, highly driven and with an honesty which makes audiences fall in love with her. We talk about her turbulent early life in the shadow of her late sister, discover how an inflatable church led her to her calling, and hastily bleep an enormous amount of libel...Don't miss Jayde in Edinburgh this year: The Ballad of Kylie Jenner's Old Face@JaydeAdamsGet ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersTickets for my show Primer at this year's Edinburgh Fringe@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simon Brodkin was best known as his comedy character "Lee Nelson", before handing Teresa May a P45, throwing money at Sepp Blatter, and invading Kanye's headline spot at Glastonbury. This former doctor with an impressive gag-rate and work ethic, now embarks on an even more challenging caper: playing himself. A new stand-up show sees him flex his joke-writing muscles in the pursuit of exploring his real life... but does he want to be himself?Extras include Simon's blagger's guide to getting backstage at the world's biggest festival, reflections on the targets of his mockery and the challenges involved in gradually moving away from Lee step by step... Sign up for the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to get access to ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more.@SimonBrodkinSimon Brodkin brings his show 100% Simon Brodkin to The Pleasance Baby Grand as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 1st – 24th August at 9.30pm. More info and tickets available at edfringe.comTickets for my show Primer at this year's Edinburgh Fringe@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd many thanks to The Comedy Store for the recording space. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian, former street-performer and popular podcast host, Stu Goldsmith is a charming but tortur-Oh god I can't fake this, it's me isn't it? It's bloody ME!Your fearless interviewer has the tables turned as he sits down to be interviewed by ComCom fans Sarah Millican, Tom Allen and Sindhu Vee, and fields questions from listeners including James Acaster, Nish Kumar, Ricky Gervais, Brett Goldstein, Herbie Treehead, Josh Widdicombe, Fern Brady and Nathaniel Metcalfe, as well as those sent in by you the listener via the ComCom Facebook page.It was quite bruising but he enjoyed it.@ComComPod@StuGoldsmithwww.comedianscomedian.comwww.stuartgoldsmith.co.ukThe rushes from the three main interviews are available soon from www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders, along with all the extra material from any episode which has ever had extras attached!Come and see Stu's work-in-progress show "Primer" at the Edinburgh Fringe at Monkey Barrel, who appear to have cheekily grabbedwww.thefringe.comwww.thefringe.co.ukandwww.fairfringe.comBut you can find Stu's details here: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/stuart-goldsmith-primer-wip Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your interviewer didn't really grasp the American term to "murder" a room, until he caught Sam Jay's set at SXSW Comedy earlier this year, in which she smashed the audience senseless with her unique perspective on race, sexuality and society. A breath-taking combination of unerring confidence, hammer-blow punchlines and genuine insight will see her reaching incredible heights in comedy. We talk about Boston, LA and New York, and why she has no time for comics who want to be adored.samjaycomic | @samjaycomicTickets for my show Primer at this year's Edinburgh Fringe@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.comThanks to www.sohotheatre.com for the recording space, don't forget to check out their brilliantly varied lineups of the cream of international comedy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Present at the opening night of the London Comedy Store, Nick Revell has been performing satirical, political and absurd standup for four decades. After a ten year break to write for TV, including on topical sitcom "Drop The Dead Donkey", he humbly returned to the open mic circuit to relearn his craft, and shares his unique perspective on how things had changed in that time, on stage, in audiences and in green rooms. We talk about the benefit of sleepless nights, his new narrative shows, and whether after nearly forty years he's finally found his voice...25mins of extra material available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club include Nick on the excess of the early days of the Store, and some brilliant technical advice on how to absorb an instinct for the shape of a joke... sign up at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders www.nickrevell.com | @TheNickRevellAnd go and see Nick's brilliantly titled Fringe show: "Nick Revell: Eurasia’s Most Eligible Psychopaths and Their Lovely Homes"Tickets for my show Primer at this year's Edinburgh Fringe@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Almost certainly the comedian with the most online content in the world, Paul Smith has uploaded over 1000 short clips of his crowdwork at Liverpool's Hot Water Comedy Club, and caught a wave of success he could never have imagined. We talk about the moment he nearly lost control of his 8000-strong hometown arena show, why he doesn't want or need TV exposure, and how he feels about the prospect of being credited as the originator of certain stock material and structures...30mins of extras available by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders including Paul's advice for comics aiming to follow in his footsteps, his very early TV work in a standup competition, and how he manages to retain his resistance to pressure.Paul's Youtube clips | @paulisthejoker | Paul's upcoming Hot Water gigsTickets for my show Primer at this year's Edinburgh Fringe @ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A multi-media artist, fascinated with language, rhythm, and combining jokes with drawing, Markus Birdman also isn't above a dick joke. Aiming for “high octane and no gaps”, with routines composed like a drum solo, we uncover his volatile relationship with his father and his father's God, the stroke that he almost mistook for a hangover, and wanting to be angry as a means of self-definition.30 mins of extras from this episode are available at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders, including Markus on survivor's guilt, the shot at the top that he might have missed, whether you can fake greatness in comedy, and a short sharp strategy for overcoming writer's block...www.markusbirdman.co.uk | @birdmanwatchingTickets for Markus' Ed Fringe show Last White ChristmasTickets for my show Primer at this year's Edinburgh Fringe@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I said it and I'm sticking with it: Russell Hicks is a risk-taking ball of fire. Making a conscious choice to bet the house on every gig, he eschews material in favour of 100% riffing, with explosive results. We explore the economic consequences of approaching a set like a game of pinball in an industry based on reliability, dig into his use of comic muscle memory, and find out why he paints on a cave wall and not a canvas...Extra material available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club includes Russell on why he chose the UK over America, how it felt to be told he wouldn't succeed whilst succeeding, and the suggestion other comics always make to him... and why he ignores it. Join up at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersFind Russell's comedy album, consisting of three different hours recorded in Edinburgh 2016 at www.russellhicks.co.ukSee my show Primer at this year's Edinburgh Fringe@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the hands of a lesser comic, Ahir Shah's ambitions towards political discourse might seem lofty, but this agile act has the punchlines to back them up. We explore how he sees one-liners as ".zip" files, using punchy gags into which he's compressed huge ideas, and learn how he attempts to safeguard his precarious mental health, particularly with regard to the loneliness of the job.20 mins of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club includes Ahir on his survival tips for small scale touring, the strategy behind his switch from the free to the paid fringe this year, and the thought he'll keep in mind when appearing shortly on "Have I Got News For You". Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to access the private podcast with all extra content plus "Comedy Critique", in which the Insiders collaborate on feedback to newer comics!Tickets and details of Ahir's Fringe showahirshah.com | @AhirShahSee my show Primer at this year's Edinburgh Fringe@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.comwww.theirworld.org | www.educationcannotwait.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Burning amazingly brightly on the UK TV comedy scene a few years ago, Andi Osho seemed to have the world at her feet. But something was wrong; she became physically and mentally exhausted and felt increasingly detached from her onstage persona. Now starring in “Curfew” on Sky, we talk about the warning signs she saw and missed, why she wouldn't do another panel show if she returned to standup, and whether it's easier or harder to be depressed in L.A.Over 20mins of extra material available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club includes Andi on the workshops, courses and ontological studies she's experienced, the limitations of standup, and finding authentic ways to give back to the world. Join up at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiderswww.andiosho.co.uk | @andiosho | @theandioshowSee my show Primer at this year's Edinburgh Fringe@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Six years after his first appearance, Josh returns for a textbook ComCom conversation about his creative development since then! We get even further into the minutiae of his writing and structuring process and what makes a perfect observation, plus some spicy celebrity gossip about Taskmaster and the secret of his rebooking success on the Graham Norton Show!Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersFind tickets to Josh's new tour here.www.joshwiddicombe.com | @joshwiddicombeSee my show Primer at this year's Edinburgh Fringe@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beloved of her fans, and radiating a genuine adoration for people, Bec Hill fizzes with comic creativity. We talk about how she lost and refound her sense of play, and explore the relationship between her faith, her self-critical voice and her work. We also cover the difference between a nerd, a geek and a dork; and talk fringe shows, flipcharts and whether she peaked at Piaf...Extra material exclusively available to members of the Insiders Club includes:Her biggest challenge with social media and the surprising reason she no longer posts jokesHow Bec dealt with a new act reproducing a very specific aspect of her style and what she fears from big businessBec and Stu share some more private stuff about what success means to us both.Sign up now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersSee Bec at this year's Ed Fringe herewww.bechillcomedian.com | @bechillcomedianSee my show at Soho Theatre between 9th-11th May And come and see me at the Ed Fringe@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.comThis episode was recorded at The Cheese Comedy Club, Bristolwww.facebook.com/thecheesecomedyclub/ | cheesecomedy.club | @cheese_comedy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A ray of hairy sunshine, Matt Braunger is one of those acts who pummels an audience with a constantly switching array of styles and techniques. Likened by Marc Maron to "a puppy who won't let go", he writes entirely on stage and chases universal emotion. We talk about happiness, faith, the importance of a point of view, shooting a sitcom in branches of IKEA, and tattooing a face on a scrotum. www.mattbraunger.com | @BraungerGet ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersSee Stu at MachfestAnd at Soho Theatre between 9th-11th May@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Creator and host of the Guilty Feminist podcast, Deborah Frances-White is a phenomenally energetic woman on a mission. A former Jehovah's Witness, she now leads her own army of followers, employing the machinery of business to liberate and entertain, and to inspire genuine activism. We explore how improv conquers repression, go into detail on the genesis of her extraordinary podcast and its roadmap for the future, and she exhorts the listener to make your own model.Extras available only to members of the Insiders Club include two incredible pieces of advice: one on how to pass pretty much any interview for anything, and the other on how as a comedian she nipped bitterness in the bud. Plus some truly brilliant coaching on why and how to create your own model for success.... Join now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Her movie Say My Name is out on 23rd April, go to guiltyfeminist for tickets and details.deborahfrances-white.com | @DeborahFW | guiltyfeminist.comGet tickets to my new tour dates at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour or on any of the following venues below: 27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican9-11/05/2019 Soho Theatre, London 05/10/19 Edinburgh Stand (early show – 5pm)11/10/19 Northampton Royal and Derngate25/10/19 Teignmouth Pavillions26/10/19 Swindon Arts Centre04/11/19 Nottingham Glee Club05/11/19 Birmingham Glee Club08/11/19 Bristol - The Comedy Box at the Hen and Chicken04/12/19 Aldershot - The West End Centre25/01/20 Corsham - The Pound Arts Centre01/02/20 Newcastle Stand (early show - 5pm)02/02/20 Glasgow - The Stand07/02/20 Farnham Maltings28/02/20 Cambridge Junction @comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com Charity Gig... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Star of "The Thick Of It" and "In The Loop", and award-winning director of "Veep", comedian Chris Addison is the director of new feature film "The Hustle", starring Rebel Wilson and Anne Hathaway. We talk about his apprenticeship under Armando Iannucci, how he handles the very first day on set, and the difference between a perfect version and a useful vision...Extra material available exclusively to the Insiders Club includes Chris on the surprising secret weapon that made Veep a success, what technical department was so important to The Thick Of It, and why he never reads reviews... Sign up today at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders mrchrisaddison.tumblr.com | @mrchrisaddison | The HustleGet tickets to my new tour dates at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour or on any of the following venues below: 17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican9-11/05/2019 Soho Theatre, London 05/10/19 Edinburgh Stand (early show – 5pm)11/10/19 Northampton Royal and Derngate25/10/19 Teignmouth Pavillions26/10/19 Swindon Arts Centre04/11/19 Nottingham Glee Club05/11/19 Birmingham Glee Club08/11/19 Bristol - The Comedy Box at the Hen and Chicken04/12/19 Aldershot - The West End Centre25/01/20 Corsham - The Pound Arts Centre01/02/20 Newcastle Stand (early show - 5pm)02/02/20 Glasgow - The Stand07/02/20 Farnham Maltings28/02/20 Cambridge Junction @comcompod |  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the godfathers of alt-comedy, Eugene Mirman is an obsessive innovator of different forms through which to be funny; laminated signs, letters to councils, lectures on how to advertise shapes and his own ten year super-commitment to a joke, the "Eugene Mirman comedy festival". As well as talking about the drafting process behind his measured absurdism, we learn how he deals with his wife's illness - both in his personal life and on stage.www.eugenemirman.com | @EugeneMirmanGet ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Book tickets to my new tour dates at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour or on any of the following venues below: 12/04/2019 Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican9-11/05/2019 Soho Theatre, London 05/10/19 Edinburgh Stand (early show – 5pm)11/10/19 Northampton Royal and Derngate25/10/19 Teignmouth Pavillions26/10/19 Swindon Arts Centre04/11/19 Nottingham Glee Club05/11/19 Birmingham Glee Club08/11/19 Bristol - The Comedy Box at the Hen and Chicken04/12/19 Aldershot - The West End Centre25/01/20 Corsham - The Pound Arts Centre01/02/20 Newcastle Stand (early show - 5pm)02/02/20 Glasgow - The Stand07/02/20 Farnham Maltings28/02/20 Cambridge Junction @comcompod |  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A disciple of "chaotic joy", Sindhu Vee's rise to standup stardom is about as meteoric as they get; just a hop and a skip from the open mic circuit, to award nominations and appearances on "QI" and "Have I Got News For You". A cursory glance at this hyper-qualified former investment banker reveals an addiction to excellence and discipline.A self-identified "graduate" of this podcast, Sindhu opens up about the defining moment that launched this phase of her life, and celebrates the endless possibilities of self-belief.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersAnd see Sindhu on tour HERE.@sindhuvfunny | sindhuvee.comGet tickets to my new tour dates at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour or on any of the following venues below:05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts12/04/2019 Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican9-11/05/2019 Soho Theatre, London 05/10/19 Edinburgh Stand (early show – 5pm)11/10/19 Northampton Royal and Derngate25/10/19 Teignmouth Pavillions26/10/19 Swindon Arts Centre04/11/19 Nottingham Glee Club05/11/19 Birmingham Glee Club08/11/19 Bristol - The Comedy Box at the Hen and Chicken04/12/19 Aldershot - The West End Centre25/01/20 Corsham - The Pound Arts Centre01/02/20 Newcastle Stand (early show - 5pm)02/02/20 Glasgow - The Stand Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr is a socio-political powerhouse of a comedian, taking huge topics about race and community and making them hilarious and relatable. We go into detail on the development of some of his favourite routines, discover how he finds the funny in murderously serious topics, and examine the sense of responsibility that drives him.Extras available only to members of the Insiders Club include details on Roy's extraordinary methodology regarding waveforms, facial expression and inflection, as well as a scathing critique of his dietary habits by fellow Daily Show correspondent Ronny Chieng. Join now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersWatch Roy's latest special for free HEREwww.roywoodjr.com | @roywoodjrGet tickets to my new tour dates at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour or on any of the following venues below:05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts12/04/2019 Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican9-11/05/2019 Soho Theatre, London 05/10/19 Edinburgh Stand (early show – 5pm)11/10/19 Northampton Royal and Derngate25/10/19 Teignmouth Pavillions26/10/19 Swindon Arts Centre04/11/19 Nottingham Glee Club05/11/19 Birmingham Glee Club08/11/19 Bristol - The Comedy Box at the Hen and Chicken04/12/19 Aldershot - The West End Centre25/01/20 Corsham - The Pound Arts Centre01/02/20 Newcastle Stand (early show - 5pm)02/02/20 Glasgow - The... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grammy and double-Emmy winner Kathy Griffin holds the Guinness world record for most comedy specials: 23 shows packed with her trademark scathing wit and merciless celebrity takedowns. But in May 2017 a provocative promo image of her holding the severed "head" of President Donald Trump changed her life forever.We talk about how she survived having the machinery of state directed towards bullying her, when a Department of Justice investigation into "conspiracy to assassinate the President" led to her entire working life being cancelled. As you'll hear, the President's admitted attempt to "decimate her life" has only strengthened the resolve of this astonishingly powerful woman...We also talk about sexism, marketing, seizing the means of production, and banging Tarantino!Buy Fuck Trump merchandise and learn more about Kathy and her touring schedule at www.kathygriffin.comKathy Griffin: A Hell of a Story | @kathygriffin | imdbGet tickets to my new tour dates at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour or on any of the following venues below:13/03/2019 Salisbury Art Centre20/03/2019 Cheltenham Playhouse29/03/2019 Crawley -The Hawth05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts12/04/2019 Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican9-11/05/2019 Soho Theatre, London 05/10/19 Edinburgh Stand (early show – 5pm)11/10/19 Northampton Royal and Derngate25/10/19 Teignmouth Pavillions26/10/19 Swindon Arts Centre04/11/19 Nottingham Glee Club05/11/19... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a double first for the podcast we speak not only across a transatlantic internet connection but also to our first critic! But Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw is unlike any other; a fast-talking and acerbic eviscerator of computer games, his hilarious "Zero Punctuation" reviews regularly attract downloads in the millions, while his sci-fi and fantasy novels have garnered critical acclaim. We discuss world-building, why games lend themselves to horror more than comedy, and cover investment, anxiety and shouting rude words. Extras: Yahtzee explores his comedy influences, his one attempt at standup and explains the iterative process behind his videos. Sign up now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders @YahtzeeCroshaw | Youtube | Zero Punctuation | Yahtzee's BlogGet tickets to my new tour dates at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour or on any of the following venues below:13/03/2019 Salisbury Art Centre20/03/2019 Cheltenham Playhouse29/03/2019 Crawley -The Hawth05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts12/04/2019 Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican9-11/05/2019 Soho Theatre, London 05/10/19 Edinburgh Stand (early show – 5pm)11/10/19 Northampton Royal and Derngate25/10/19 Teignmouth Pavillions26/10/19 Swindon Arts Centre04/11/19 Nottingham Glee Club05/11/19... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Toby is a quintessential English gent; bumbling, noble and Dr Who obsessed. He's also a very deft writer whose work keeps making Stu cry, as well as a respected compere and champion of newer acts. We talk about his stewardship of the club XS Mallarkey, using self-deprecation as a defense mechanism, and tease at the feeling of being surplus...Extra material available exclusively to Insiders includes Toby on his brilliant contribution to a radio show commemorating the life of Spike Milligan, and the time he punched a heckler. Sign up now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@TobyHadoke | tobyhadoke.com | Toby Hadoke's Who's RoundWATCH my free comedy special on Dead Parrot's YouTube channel HEREBUY the Directors Cut for £5 at www.comedianscomedian.com/specialOBSERVE my new tour dates at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour or on any of the following venues below:13/03/2019 Salisbury Art Centre20/03/2019 Cheltenham Playhouse29/03/2019 Crawley -The Hawth05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts12/04/2019 Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican9-11/05/2019 Soho Theatre, London 05/10/19 Edinburgh Stand (early show – 5pm)11/10/19 Northampton Royal and Derngate25/10/19 Teignmouth Pavillions26/10/19 Swindon Arts Centre04/11/19 Nottingham Glee Club Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Watch the 55min clean edit of my new comedy special "Like I Mean It" for free here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3Xb93lb0jwGet the 82min director's cut that puts you right in the room, here:https://vimeo.com/ondemand/likeimeanitCome see me live on tour in 2019!01/03/19Falmouth – The Poly20/03/19Cheltenham Playhouse29/03/19Crawley -The Hawth05/04/19Reading – South Street Arts12/04/19Leamington Spa – Royal Spa Centre13/04/19Salisbury Arts Centre17/04/19Oxford Old Fire Station19/04/19Bromsgrove – Artrix27/04/19Plymouth Barbican9-11/05/2019Soho Theatre, London  05/10/19Edinburgh Stand (early show – 5pm)11/10/19Northampton Royal and Derngate25/10/19Teignmouth Pavillions26/10/19Swindon Arts Centre04/11/19Nottingham Glee Club05/11/19Birmingham Glee Club08/11/19Bristol – The Comedy Box at the Hen and Chicken04/12/19Aldershot – The West End Centre25/01/20Corsham – The Pound Arts Centre01/02/20Newcastle Stand (early show – 5pm)02/02/20Glasgow – The Stand07/02/20Farnham Maltings28/02/20Cambridge Junction Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A quintessential stand-up, with over three decades' experience and forty-five Letterman appearances, Jake Johannsen is an infinitely warm and funny man.We talk about how his decisions have defined him, how to cope with periods of derailed progress, and why the plans of a comedian are pointless. Extra content available to members of the Insiders Club include Jake on turning down a pivotal role in Seinfeld; how he utilises his massive experience to play corporate gigs, and how he deals with having material stolen...Join up at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for all the extra content from past and future shows, the "comedy critique" episodes, ad-free episodes and secret REDACTED live recordings!@jakethis | www.jakethis.comBook now for LIVE ComComPods:Mar 23rd 1pm - Live special with comedy legend TBC @ Birmingham Podcast Festival!    Stu’s 2019 tour of “End Of” is on sale now! “A comedy masterclass… Endlessly inventive” (The List)Tickets for the first half of the tour at these links:22/02/2019 Maidenhead – Norden Farm01/03/2019 Falmouth – The Poly13/03/2019 Salisbury Art Centre20/03/2019 Cheltenham Playhouse29/03/2019 Crawley -The Hawth05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts12/04/2019 Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican9-11/05/2019 Soho Theatre, London@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com   And don't forget to join... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A diamond-hard joke writer and phenomenally deft performer, there is no aspect of Jeff Innocent's act that hasn't been honed to perfection. A purist about several aspects of comedy, some of them surprising, his hard man aesthetic conceals a deadly sophistication. We talk about the poetry of comedy, the pursuit of the rolling laugh, and find out why never to say "hello"...Around 30mins of extra material available only to members of the insiders club includes Jeff on martial arts, misdirection, feeling vulnerable for the first time, and dropping bombs... Join now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersJeff Innocent Comedy Academy | www.jeffinnocent.com | @InnocentJeffBook now for LIVE ComComPods:Mar 23rd 1pm - Live special with comedy legend TBC @ Birmingham Podcast Festival!    Stu’s 2019 tour of “End Of” is on sale now! “A comedy masterclass… Endlessly inventive” (The List)Tickets for the first half of the tour at these links:22/02/2019 Maidenhead – Norden Farm01/03/2019 Falmouth – The Poly13/03/2019 Salisbury Art Centre20/03/2019 Cheltenham Playhouse29/03/2019 Crawley -The Hawth05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts12/04/2019 Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican9-11/05/2019 Soho Theatre, London@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com   And don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If I told you "Police Cops" met at drama school, mucked about to make their fellow students laugh and now tour an action movie spoof comedy show, you might turn up your nose. But you'd be a fool to ignore their hyper-speed joke rate, astonishing innovation and innate physical clowning. They are laugh-til-you-cry, standing-ovation funny, and they're converting crowds into baying fans wherever they go. We talk live in a dank cellar about their favourite gags, their gag-grinding process, and the providence of brown stains...SEE POLICE COPS ON TOUR@PoliceCops_ | www.policecops.co.ukBook now for LIVE ComComPods:Mar 23rd 1pm - Live special with comedy legend TBC @ Birmingham Podcast Festival!    Stu’s 2019 tour of “End Of” is on sale now! “A comedy masterclass… Endlessly inventive” (The List)Tickets for the first half of the tour at these links:22/02/2019 Maidenhead – Norden Farm01/03/2019 Falmouth – The Poly13/03/2019 Salisbury Art Centre20/03/2019 Cheltenham Playhouse29/03/2019 Crawley -The Hawth05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts12/04/2019 Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican9-11/05/2019 Soho Theatre, London@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com   And don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the co-founders of Newport's finest musical export "Goldie Lookin Chain", John "Eggsy" Rutledge is an irrepressibly joyful soul who raps but isn't a rapper. We talk about the development of the band, why you can't ever get off the tour bus, his "Unexplainers" podcast with Mike Bubbins, and how and when to avoid the grownups.www.theunexplainers.co.uk | @theunexplainers | @TheGLC | Goldie Lookin ChainEnjoy ad-free episodes plus a ton of extra content from interviews, as well as access to the private podcast and our super-fan community at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersBook now for LIVE ComComPod at Birmingham Podcast Festival:Mar 23rd 1pm - Live special with comedy legend TBC @ Birmingham Podcast Festival!    Stu’s 2019 tour of “End Of” is on sale now! “A comedy masterclass… Endlessly inventive” (The List)Tickets for the first half of the tour at these links:22/02/2019 Maidenhead – Norden Farm01/03/2019 Falmouth – The Poly13/03/2019 Salisbury Art Centre20/03/2019 Cheltenham Playhouse29/03/2019 Crawley -The Hawth05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts12/04/2019 Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican9-11/05/2019 Soho Theatre, London@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com   And don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

News of Jeremy Hardy's passing reached me today and came as a massive shock to the vast majority of his fans. The outpouring of love and affection for this wonderful gentle man and comic, who carried a righteous energy for activism and protest, has been moving and inspiring. As Mark Steele tweeted today "Knowing him as I did, I know he wouldn't want you to be sad, he'd want you to be bloody devastated." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Character-filled comedian and actress, Jessica Fostekew is also the presenter of her own podcast "Hoovering", and guest co-host of The Guilty Feminist. We talk about how noticing her own faked confidence led to a sea-change in her creative process, the "crime" of mixing stand-up and acting, the joys of fabricating the truth, and when to drink the champagne...Join the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to get access to an ad-free version of this episode plus 20 minutes of extras, including Jessica's exploration of her work directing standup shows for Sara Pascoe and Lauren Pattinson among others. Insiders Club membership also gives you a whole private podcast stuffed with inspiring extra content, the chance to critique newer acts en masse, and pitch to interview Stu about the subject of your choice - as well as a new community of hyper-fans!See Hoovering Live at the Vault Festival, 3rd March!jessicafostekew.com | @jessicafostekewBook now for LIVE ComComPods: Mar 23rd 1pm - Live special with comedy legend TBC @ Birmingham Podcast Festival!    Stu’s 2019 tour of “End Of” is on sale now! “A comedy masterclass… Endlessly inventive” (The List)Tickets for the first half of the tour at these links:22/02/2019 Maidenhead – Norden Farm01/03/2019 Falmouth – The Poly13/03/2019 Salisbury Art Centre20/03/2019 Cheltenham Playhouse29/03/2019 Crawley -The Hawth05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts12/04/2019 Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican9-11/05/2019 Soho Theatre, London Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Britain's greatest living anti-comedian" (Guardian), Ed Aczel is an oddball among oddballs. We analyse his "instinctive adventure" within comedy, and discover how to create and burst tension in unexpected ways; the secret of destabilising beauty; and whether Ed knows why he's funny.Join the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to access extra material including Ed on the rise of the oddball act on the UK scene, a recap of the "Dr Brown" clown course Ed and Stu found themselves on together, and why there's no such thing as a wasted journey...Edward Aczel (@edwardaczel)Book now for LIVE ComComPods: Feb 2nd 4.30pm - Live special with hilarious rubber-limbed melodramatists POLICE COPS @ Vault Festival London!  Mar 23rd 1pm - Live special with comedy legend TBC @ Birmingham Podcast Festival!    Stu’s 2019 tour of “End Of” is on sale now! “A comedy masterclass… Endlessly inventive” (The List)Tickets for the first half of the tour at these links:22/02/2019 Maidenhead – Norden Farm01/03/2019 Falmouth – The Poly13/03/2019 Salisbury Art Centre20/03/2019 Cheltenham Playhouse29/03/2019 Crawley -The Hawth05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts12/04/2019 Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican9-11/05/2019 Soho Theatre, London@comcompod |  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Bailey Smith AKA Doc Brown is a prodigious talent, with clean-cut standup and roof-raising comedy rap, as well as a parallel career as an influential and respected rapper. But his ostensibly industrial self-belief conceals a "patchwork of anxiety and depression". We talk about the state of mind that led him to turn down a 220-date national tour, how his stage name became a millstone, and why he struggles to make a meal he wouldn't eat himself...Extra content available to donors at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders includes the full story on how Doc wrote and prepared for hosting the LA BAFTAS in 2016, and how to improvise in front of Samuel L Jackson. We also learn why Doc's change in career is kind of Stu's fault...www.docbrown.co.uk | Doc on Spotify | Youtube Book now for LIVE ComComPods:Feb 2nd 4.30pm - Live special with hilarious rubber-limbed melodramatists POLICE COPS @ Vault Festival London!  Mar 23rd 1pm - Live special with comedy legend TBC @ Birmingham Podcast Festival!    Stu’s 2019 tour of “End Of” is on sale now! “A comedy masterclass… Endlessly inventive” (The List)Tickets for the first half of the tour at these links:22/02/2019 Maidenhead – Norden Farm01/03/2019 Falmouth – The Poly13/03/2019 Salisbury Art Centre20/03/2019 Cheltenham Playhouse29/03/2019 Crawley -The Hawth05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts12/04/2019 Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix27/04/2019 Plymouth... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Incredibly insightful and darkly funny, Laura Davis is a truly gifted artist who holds aspects of herself up to the light and says "you too?" We discuss the iron resolve that took her from an "extremely shy and extremely loud" girlhood, to performing jokes without victims, inside a duvet cover. If you've ever thought of jokes as "ideas refracted through a prism of other people's experience", you're going to love this one...*Content Warning*: This episode contains a discussion of suicidal feelings. Extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club include:Some tips on wielding status for naturally shy comediansA defence of the right of artists to make shitty workA reflection on an early piece of Laura's work in which she deliberately entrapped the audience in an abusive relationship...Join now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersFollow Laura Davis @LauraDavisComicwww.lauradaviscomedy.comhttp://comedy-festival.co.uk/event/laura-davis-cake-in-the-rain/http://comedy-festival.co.uk/event/laura-davis-work-in-progress/https://www.komedia.co.uk/brighton/comedy/laura-davis-ghost-machine/  Book now for LIVE ComComPods:Feb 2nd 4.30pm - Live special with hilarious rubber-limbed melodramatists POLICE COPS @ Vault Festival London! Mar 23rd 1pm - Live special with comedy legend TBC @ Birmingham Podcast Festival! Don't miss out! you only have until 31st December to pre-order the insanely good new ComCom T-shirt designed by @LiseRichardson at www.comedianscomedian.com/merch      Stu’s 2019 tour of “End Of” is on sale now! “A comedy masterclass… Endlessly inventive” (The List)Tickets for the first half of the tour at these links:22/02/2019 Maidenhead – Norden Farm01/03/2019 Falmouth – The Poly13/03/2019 Salisbury Art Centre20/03/2019 Cheltenham Playhouse29/03/2019 Crawley -The Hawth05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Creator of The Dark Room, one of the most exciting, imaginative, maddening and hilariously cruel live experiences Stu has ever been a part of, John Robertson is also a stand-up, tending towards lunatic clown. We talk about weaponising outsider status to survive school, and the dynamic between outlandish persona and the "over-indulged child" within. But how to you nurture joy when you get paid to scream abuse at people?Enjoy all extras from shows past and present with access to the private Insiders Club podcast, alongside a host of other strands and projects, including the chance to interview Stu yourself, and take part in a group critical analysis of newer acts from all over the world: www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders   The Dark Room game is now at www.thedarkroomgame.com - available on Steam for PC and Mac. John's website is www.thejohnrobertson.comAnd you can find him on Twitter @Robbotron  Stu’s 2019 tour of “End Of” is on sale now! “A comedy masterclass… Endlessly inventive” (The List)Tickets for the first half of the tour at these links:22/02/2019 Maidenhead – Norden Farm01/03/2019 Falmouth – The Poly13/03/2019 Salisbury Art Centre20/03/2019 Cheltenham Playhouse29/03/2019 Crawley -The Hawth05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts12/04/2019 Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican9-11/05/2019 Soho Theatre, London@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com And don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Unfailingly bright and bubbly, Laura Lexx has recently shifted into higher gear, with a breakthrough fringe show about an ongoing mental health struggle. We learn how her director Jessica Fostekew pushed her to be more vulnerable than her club comic instincts would ordinarily allow, discuss bailing at competition finals, and consider melting down the fat to get to the muscle... Extras available for donors on the private podcast at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders include Laura on changes in her mindset that helped her improve; the differences between what audiences and industry are looking for in a festival show; reflections on other useful painful experiences, and a warning for people considering a certain student comedy competition... The show Laura was doing at the Edinburgh festival was "Trying" and you can see it at The Soho Theatre in London from 20-23 February 2019 - https://sohotheatre.com/shows/laura-lexx-trying/ Catch Laura on the BBC's Live at the Apollo Christmas Special on 20th December! Details of all Laura's gigs and to keep up with everything she does via a newsletter are at www.lauralexx.co.uk, and she's on twitter @LauraLexx  and Facebook.com/lauralexxcomedian Pre-order the insanely good new ComCom T-shirt designed by @LiseRichardson at www.comedianscomedian.com/merch   DON'T MISS OUT! Sign up for the ComComPod Secret Santa comedy-swap... ONLY ONE WEEK TO GO: https://tinyurl.com/ycwkqyn9  Stu’s 2019 tour of “End Of” has just gone on sale! “A comedy masterclass… Endlessly inventive” (The List)Tickets for the first half of the tour at these links:22/02/2019 Maidenhead – Norden Farm01/03/2019 Falmouth – The Poly13/03/2019 Salisbury Art Centre20/03/2019 Cheltenham Playhouse29/03/2019 Crawley -The Hawth05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts12/04/2019 Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New T-shirts available to pre-order NOW until Dec 31st at www.comedianscomedian.com/merchDon't miss out! Online orders end on Dec 31st and then surplus will only be available in person after that...*THEY WILL NOT ARRIVE IN TIME FOR XMAS!* "Bee" design by Lise Richardson@LiseRichardsonwww.liserichardsonart.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Q.I. "Elves" Andrew Hunter Murray, Anna Ptaszynski, Dan Schreiber and James Harkin join Stu live onstage at the London Podcast Festival to break down the process by which they unearth the world's greatest facts and fancies, and turn them into one of the world's most runaway successful podcasts! Who's the leader, what's the difference between the two main clowns, and which team player secretly strikes fear into the hearts of the other three? Enjoy all extras from shows past and present with access to the private Insiders Club podcast, alongside a host of other strands and projects, including the chance to interview Stu yourself, and take part in a group critical analysis of newer acts from all over the world: http://www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Get advance info on next year's London Podcast Festival @KingsPlace Follow No Such Thing As A Fish on Twitter @NoSuchThing Buy "The Book Of The Year 2018" here: http://qi.com/shop/fish Get tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour Pre-order the insanely good new ComCom T-shirt designed by @LiseRichardson at www.comedianscomedian.com/merch DON'T MISS OUT!Sign up for the ComComPod Secret Santa comedy-swap by 7th December: https://tinyurl.com/ycwkqyn9 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peep inside the mind of the "infinity lad" Sean Morley, a mysterious Northerner naked but for his own fragility. We talk about intelligent surrealism, the risk of commodifying weirdness, why he improvised his competition sets, and how to succeed by one's own metrics...  seanmorley.co.uk@seanmorl Discover occult secrets about Sean's "Glang Show" as well as every past and future bit of extra material by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Support the show with your own regular donation to access the private Insiders podcast, and become a hero in the eyes of your grandchildren.  Stu’s 2019 tour of “End Of” has just gone on sale!“A comedy masterclass… Endlessly inventive” (The List)Tickets for the first half of the tour at these links:22/02/2019 Maidenhead – Norden Farm01/03/2019 Falmouth – The Poly13/03/2019 Salisbury Art Centre20/03/2019 Cheltenham Playhouse29/03/2019 Crawley -The Hawth05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts12/04/2019 Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com And don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Swaggering and slick yet positive and passionate, Imran Yusuf talks fast and funny, and dances around accusations of arrogance. The first free fringe act to be nominated for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Festival, appearing shortly afterwards on Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow, it looked as if the world was at his feet. But he is the first to admit he didn't capitalise on his success, and now takes a forensic approach to the business decisions and alliances he regrets. We talk about how his previous job in the video-games industry affects his quality control; uncover the dynamic between his work ethic and an "internal unworthiness", and discover his voracious attitude to personal development...www.imranyusuf.com@ImranYusufEnjoy all extras from shows past and present with access to the private Insiders Club podcast, alongside a host of other strands and projects, including the chance to interview Stu yourself, and take part in a group critical analysis of newer acts from all over the world: www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Stu’s 2019 tour of “End Of” has just gone on sale! “A comedy masterclass… Endlessly inventive” (The List)Tickets for the first half of the tour at these links:22/02/2019 Maidenhead – Norden Farm01/03/2019 Falmouth – The Poly13/03/2019 Salisbury Art Centre20/03/2019 Cheltenham Playhouse29/03/2019 Crawley -The Hawth05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts12/04/2019 Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elf Lyons is a comic phenomenon; a sexy clown with weaponised vulnerability, who loves tackling impossible theatrical challenges. Recorded before some complex health issues took her out of action, this conversation goes into depth on Elf's process, including how dealing with a horrible experience via bouffon clown allowed her to access a funnier self. We discuss what a rare bird is the audience, what parental pressure means to her, why you can't force meaning, and how to style out your weirdness.@Elf_Lyonshttps://www.theelflyons.com/ Enjoy all extras from shows past and present with access to the private Insiders Club podcast, alongside a host of other strands and projects, including the chance to interview Stu yourself, and take part in a group critical analysis of newer acts from all over the world: www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Stu’s 2019 tour of “End Of” has just gone on sale! “A comedy masterclass… Endlessly inventive” (The List)Tickets for the first half of the tour at these links:22/02/2019 Maidenhead – Norden Farm01/03/2019 Falmouth – The Poly13/03/2019 Salisbury Art Centre29/03/2019 Crawley -The Hawth05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts12/04/2019 Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A quick introduction to my beautiful daughter... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Crowned "Funniest Person In The World" at the Hollywood Laugh Factory, Finnish Ismo is often described as a Scandinavian Mitch Hedberg.  We discuss his intertwined logic and absurdity, learn how his fascination with jokes annoys even other comics, and analyse "Are you happy?" as a trick question... Extra material for members of the Insiders Club includes Ismo on the perfect joke, what not to assume of your audience, and an example of a joke in Finnish translated into English, all on the private podcast at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Stu’s 2019 tour of “End Of” has just gone on sale!“A comedy masterclass… Endlessly inventive” (The List)Tickets for the first half of the tour at these links:07/10/2018 Aberystwyth Comedy Festival – The Coliseum22/02/2019 Maidenhead – Norden Farm01/03/2019 Falmouth – The Poly13/03/2019 Salisbury Art Centre29/03/2019 Crawley – The Hawth05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts12/04/2019 Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Thomas is familiar to fans of British comedy as the innovative leftie agitator whose "Comedy Product" show entrapped arms dealers, torturers and Tories to hilarious effect, and at genuine risk to his safety and liberty. He survived being placed on the Domestic Extremist watch-list, and has transformed into a masterful theatre-maker; no less angry but producing richer and more nuanced work. We discuss the dynamic between selflessness and control, learn the influence of critical friendships on his creative process, and find out what all of it has cost him... Mark Thomas Tour dates and tickets Exclusive extra material available to podcast supporters at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders includes Mark waxing lyrical on stand-up as an essentially Thatcherite form, his detective work behind the scenes on the NHS, his biggest failure, and which act he once accidentally impersonated at a Jongleurs gig... Enjoy all extras from shows past and present with access to the private Insiders Club podcast, alongside a host of other strands and projects, including the chance to interview Stu yourself, and take part in a group critical analysis of newer acts from all over the world! Stu’s 2019 tour of “End Of” has just gone on sale!“A comedy masterclass… Endlessly inventive” (The List)Tickets for the first half of the tour at these links:07/10/2018 Aberystwyth Comedy Festival – The Coliseum22/02/2019 Maidenhead – Norden Farm01/03/2019 Falmouth – The Poly29/03/2019 Crawley -The Hawth05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts12/04/2019 Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Championed as a Hollywood icon of the Slacker generation, Janeane Garofalo is a brilliant and fascinating stand-up, with the structure-free style you'd expect from someone who read from notes on her first HBO special. She's candid about crying daily within the TV "sausage factory" of crime drama which draws in former film stars, and lets loose on the makers of 24 and Criminal Minds. She also talks about her activism, how her parents "raised a quitter", and turns out to be surprisingly well-informed on British comedy...Extra material for members of the Insiders Club includes Janeane on the competition between reviewers to be as critical as possible, how it felt to be actively passed on by Netflix, the trials of selling shows when you eschew social media, and a secret message left to Stu when he went for a wee and left the recorder running... All available when you join the Insiders Club for £2 per month or whatever you think is fair at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders  Stu’s 2019 tour of “End Of” has just gone on sale!“A comedy masterclass… Endlessly inventive” (The List)Tickets for the first half of the tour at these links:07/10/2018 Aberystwyth Comedy Festival – The Coliseum22/02/2019 Maidenhead – Norden Farm01/03/2019 Falmouth – The Poly29/03/2019 Crawley -The Hawth05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican        Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A comedy firebrand who channels his anger into punchy stories with great characterisation, Garrett Millerick had a breakthrough Edinburgh fringe this year with “Sunflower”, a show that was meaningful despite his efforts to the contrary.  We talk about dealing with very difficult emotional material; which one day of his life is completely off-limits; and getting the sensation that Something Might Be Happening…@MillerickComedywww.garrettmillerick.com Stu’s 2019 tour of “End Of” has just gone on sale!“A comedy masterclass… Endlessly inventive” (The List)Tickets for the first half of the tour at these links:07/10/2018 Aberystwyth Comedy Festival – The Coliseum22/02/2019 Maidenhead – Norden Farm01/03/2019 Falmouth – The Poly29/03/2019 Crawley -The Hawth05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix27/04/2019 Plymouth BarbicanGo to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to support the show with £2 per month or more, and get access to a treasure trove of secret podcast extra material and special projects, including the chance to interview Stu on the subject of your choice, or give community feedback to clips from up and coming comedians.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A purveyor of rigorously intellectual stand-up, searing personal material, and diamond-hard puns, Alice Fraser joins the ComComPod community for a live special episode - moments after the entire audience had enjoyed her superb show "Ethos". Covering bullying, Buddhism and artificial intelligence, can Stu crack this immensely self-assured nut? Follow Alice on Twitter @Aliterative www.alicecomedyfraser.com Download "Trilogy" and find out about Tea With Alice, The Bugle, and Alice's other podcast and comedy work here: www.alicecomedyfraser.com/teacast/ Thanks to Ben Moorhouse for the loan of beautiful Audrey the Vintage Mobile Cinema - more info here www.vintagemobilecinema.co.uk Sign up for all the extras at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@StuGoldsmith @ComComPod www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Responsible for the best reviewed comedy show at Edfringe 2018, Alex Edelman is an irrepressibly funny comic, with a grasp of joke structure and narrative arc that is both innate and studied. We cover his Modern Orthodox Jewish upbringing, and as well as identifying a "a confessional arms race" in modern comedy, he reveals a desperate need to be accepted by his peers. But is he really "solicitous and pandering"? Extra content for this episode includes Alex's hypothetical "formula" for an award-winning first hour, and why although prescriptive it isn't actually that formulaic. We also get to hear him review himself honestly... Sign up for all the extras at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Find out more about Alex at www.alexedelmancomedy.com @alexedelmanwww.comedianscomedian.com @StuGoldsmith @ComComPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Best know nowadays as Chief Commissioner Cameron Miekelsonfrom BBC Scotland's "Scot Squad", Jack Docherty first came to comedy in 1980 with his sketch group "The Bodgers" arrival at the Edinburgh Fringe. We explore how the Fringe has changed, trace his career via the Channel Four sketch show "Absolutely", and resulting spin-off "Mr Don & Mr George", and discover his frustrations on hosting the chatshow that was a Channel 5 flagship. We also unpack which absurdist elements of Jack's improvisation are too much for TV...  Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to support the show with £2 per month or more, and get access to a treasure trove of secret podcast extra material and special projects, including the chance to interview Stu on the subject of your choice, or give community feedback to clips from up and coming comedians.  Thanks again to The Place Hotel on York Place in Edinburgh https://yorkplace-edinburgh.co.uk/   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Winner of the 2018 Edinburgh Comedy Award (called it!), Rose Matafeo brought the thunder to #edfringe this year, with a barnstorming performance of her show "Horndog". We discuss how she ensured her hilarious material about female sexuality brought the whole room along with it; how she's actively mining for hot takes; and why she has a quintuple-threat approach to performance.@Rose_MatafeoGo to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to support the show with £2 per month or more, and get access to a treasure trove of secret podcast extra material and special projects, including the chance to interview Stu on the subject of your choice, or give community feedback to clips from up and coming comedians. www.comedianscomedian.com@ComComPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whipsmart hipster Nick Thune combines hilarious club chops with genuine insight. In a hotel room at SXSW we discuss how he has fashioned a beautiful cage of a career, the difference between "open" and "closed" jokes, and deserving happiness. We also hear the incredible tale of the time he got to sift through the old notebooks of comedy legend Mitch Hedberg... www.nickthune.com@nickthuneWatch Nick's latest special 'Good Guy' on Amazon PrimeGo to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to support the show with £2 per month or more, and get access to a treasure trove of secret podcast extra material and special projects, including the chance to interview Stu on the subject of your choice, or give community feedback to clips from up and coming comedians. www.comedianscomedian.com@ComComPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Myq Kaplan just bubbles over with jokes; every punchline has a topper and every topper has a tag in his absurdly punchline-dense cascade of comedy. We talk about structure, rhythm and where it all comes from, and enjoy a superb counter to the question "are you happy?" http://myqkaplan.com/Tickets for Myq's Edinburgh show@MyqKaplan Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to support the show with £2 per month or more, and get access to a treasure trove of secret podcast extra material and special projects, including the chance to interview Stu on the subject of your choice, or give community feedback to clips from up and coming comedians. www.comedianscomedian.com@ComComPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jen Brister is one of those comics who has been excellent for a long time and is finally getting some proper recognition. Her passionate, witty material about love, motherhood and human relationships is backed up a real talent for characterisation, and lashings of anger and self-doubt; a bulletproof bag of nerves if you will... We talk about her brief stint as a BBC6 Music presenter, how her subsequent fall from grace reinvigorated her comedy career, and what was going through her mind as she walked onstage at Live At The Apollo...www.jenbrister.co.ukTickets for Jen's tour and Edinburgh shows@JenBrister Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to support the show with £2 per month or more, and get access to a treasure trove of secret podcast extra material and special projects, including the chance to interview Stu on the subject of your choice, or give community feedback to clips from up and coming comedians.  www.comedianscomedian.com@ComComPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Scummy Mummies" Helen Thorn and Ellie Gibson are a pair of stand-ups with a hit parenting podcast unlike any other. Unafraid to get shit in their eyebrows and tell you about it, we discover the dynamic between them, get the lowdown on their very eventful live tour shows, and hear the infuriating story of their TV smash-in-waiting getting held down by The Man (or Some Men). Visit scummymummies.com to listen to the Scummy Mummies podcast and buy tickets for their live shows. You can follow them on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @scummymummies.  www.comedianscomedian.com@ComComPod   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Foot has one of the most refreshingly original comic voices in the world. We delve deep into the 13 years he spent being brilliant but unreliable, and the psychological toll imposed by the heroic deaths necessary to achieve genuine excellence. We talk about his writing partnership, his "guild of connoisseurs", and the Australian run of shows that changed everything... Hungry for more? Experience Paul's jaw-droppingly comprehensive 30 minute explanation of his "seven styles of comedy" (possibly impenetrable to the casual listener), and discover the origin of his utterly unique dress code, all available now to members of the Insiders Club! Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to support the show with £2 per month or more, and get access to a treasure trove of secret podcast extra material and special projects, including the chance to interview Stu on the subject of your choice, or give community feedback to clips from up and coming comedians. See Paul Foot at this year's Ed Fringe@PaulFootwww.paulfoot.tvThe Guild of Connoisseurs@ComComPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vaudeville musical prop-based comedy dickheads, the Raymond and Mr Timpkins Review have been winning standing ovations all over Britain for decades. We talk about their origins filling in during the scoring on battle of the bands nights, why they consider themselves hobbyists despite being full-time professionals, and find out how and why they're gearing up for their first ever Edinburgh Fringe run... Hear extra material from guests including Robin Ince, Dara O'Briain, James Acaster and more, PLUS a load of other interactive comedy projects giving you more tailored direct advice on creating work. Don't miss out, download the private "Insiders Club" podcast at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersSee Tony and Andy in the Pleasance Dome at 8.30pm, in "Ham"www.raymondandmrtimpkins.co.uk@raymondtimpkins@ComComPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Splicing together physical absurdity with beautifully cerebral joke-writing, John Luke Roberts is responsible for some genuinely ground-breaking comedy. We discuss how he was vice-president of Cambridge Footlights while not feeling part of it, how he battles his ego and why he was drawn to Ecole Phillipe Gaulier.  We also explore what it feels like to perform as a terrifying clown of your own dead father... Extras available by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders include the inside story on ACMS and his "mutually-assured" relationship with co-host Thom Tuck, and his thoughts on why even though the highs of improv and musical comedy are high indeed, the entry level is pretty low... @JLukeRoberts / Tickets for John Luke's 2018 Ed Fringe show Stu's remaining tour dates:29/06/2018 Tringe FestivalAnd get information on Stu's Ed Fringe show 'End Of' HERE.@ComComPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian, broadcaster, science-afficionado and author of forthcoming psychological memoir "I'm A Joke And So Are You", Robin Ince's ideas flow through him like neutrinos. We discuss his constant state of "hypervigilant" anxiety, improvisation and tangents, success and frustration. Once or twice he even pauses for breath... @RobinInce | www.RobinInce.com | The Infinite Monkey Cage  Hear an extra 40 minutes of Robin Ince, as well as bonus material from the likes of Dara O'Briain, James Acaster and more, PLUS a load of other interactive comedy projects giving you more tailored direct advice on creating work... Don't miss out, download the private "Insiders Club" podcast at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders   @ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A fitting guest for the Sestercentennial of the show, Simon "The Patrician" Evans was once Guest Zero - without him the podcast might not exist at all. A touring and club powerhouse, and Radio 4 regular, his every line and inflection is a polished diamond. We explore the grind necessary to achieve those results, discover the devilment beneath his political dalliances, and learn which TV comic pushed him to "adapt or die"... Hear extra material from this conversation with Simon, as well as from Dara O'Briain, James Acaster and more, PLUS a load of other interactive comedy projects giving you more tailored direct advice on creating work. Don't miss out, download the private "Insiders Club" podcast at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersSee Simon's "Genius 2.0" at Edinburgh@TheSimonEvans @comcompod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anuvab Pal is one of a new generation, exploding out of India's relatively recent "comedy Big Bang". This disarming, witty act reveals how hard he finds it to embrace the Western "free thought" approach to learning, and waxes lyrical on the difference between art and "retail entertainment", as well as giving us the low-down on who to watch out for in Indian comedy... Hear extra material from this conversation with Anuvab, as well as extras from Russell Howard, James Acaster and more, PLUS a load of other interactive comedy projects giving you more tailored direct advice on creating work. Don't miss out, download the private "Insiders" podcast at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@AnuvabPal@ComComPod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sophie is a hurricane of comedy in action. Possessed of a singular voice, she focuses her wit on genuinely important subject matter, including the cuts to social and mental health care services. We talk about obtaining government funding for her comedy tours, the "politics of politeness", and what happens after the conversation about class in comedy... Hear extra material from this conversation with Sophie, as well as extras from Russell Howard, James Acaster and more, plus a load of other interactive comedy projects...Support the show by becoming a member of the "Insiders Club" at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersSee Sophie on tour nationally and at the Soho Theatre this June, details via www.sophiewillan.com@SophieWillanSee Stu on tour over the next two months, including a DVD record of the tour show on June 14th in Bristol: 30/05/2018 Aldershot, West End Centre01/06/2018 Sheffield, The Lescar02/06/2018 York, The Basement03/06/2018 Newcastle – The Stand04/06/2018 Leeds, Duke Studios08/06/2018 Southampton, Hanger Farm09/06/2018 Cambridge Junction12/06/2018 Edinburgh, The Monkey Barrel13/06/2018 Glasgow, The Stand14/06/2018 DVD RECORD IN BRISTOL 15/06/2018 Birmingham Glee17/06/2018 Brighton Komedia21-23 June London, Soho Theatre29/06/2018 Tringe Festival@ComComPod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Considering oneself "an artist who works in the field of comedy" is the starting point for a fascinating re-framing of the whole goddamn thing, in this conversation with the wonderfully funny, curious, and extraordinarily inventive Ben Target. We discover a shared inspiration in an Argentinian circus, explore Ben's holistic approach to theatre-in-the-round, and find out why minor authority figures are inherently funny... See Ben's Edinburgh Fringe show 'Splosh'@BenTargetDon't forget to support the show and join the members-only podcast stuffed with extra content and experimental projects And come and see Stu's standup tour now: 23/05/2018 Swindon Arts Centre26/05/2018 Farnham Maltings30/05/2018 Aldershot, West End Centre01/06/2018 Sheffield, The Lescar02/06/2018 York, The Basement03/06/2018 Newcastle – The Stand04/06/2018 Leeds, Duke Studios08/06/2018 Southampton, Hanger Farm09/06/2018 Cambridge Junction12/06/2018 Edinburgh, The Monkey Barrel13/06/2018 Glasgow, The Stand15/06/2018 Birmingham Glee17/06/2018 Brighton Komedia21-23 June London, Soho Theatre29/06/2018 Tringe Festival@comcompod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To unlock the full live show as well as bundles of extra content, sign up to a recurring donation at www.comedianscomedian.com/donateNew acts submit their stuff for community critique!You interview Stu - about start-ups, writing techniques and how to make comedy out of emotionally-charged life stories, plus anything else you can think of!Extra content from new episodes (coming soon Paul Foot in incredible detail on his seven styles of comedy)!Stu's philosophy on performing at the Edinburgh Fringe, accrued over 25 years at that festival!Join the inner circle today at www.comedianscomedian.com/donate Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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One of the most recognisable faces of the "Blue Collar Comedy Tour", Ron "Tater Salad" White is adored by fans of his caustic wit and everyday calls-it-like-he-sees-it Texan charm.  We talk about his discovery of the part of his brain that went on to make him his fortune, about what it means to murder a crowd, and what it's like to be a joke when he's working on you... Find more of Ron White:@ron_whitewww.tatersalad.com Learn more about the podcast:@comcompodwww.comedianscomedian.com Sign-up to membership for exclusive extra content and access to the private extra podcast, including collaborative critique of new comedians' work, and "You Interview Stu":www.comedianscomedian.com/donate And come and see Stu's standup tour now! 11/05/2018 Bristol, Hen & Chickens12/05/2018 Bath Rondo Theatre16/05/2018 Norwich, Epic Studios18/05/2018 Northampton Royal & Derngate19/05/2018 Warwick Arts Centre (Coventry)20/05/2018 Shrewsbury, Henry Tudor House23/05/2018 Swindon Arts Centre26/05/2018 Farnham Maltings30/05/2018 Aldershot, West End Centre01/06/2018 Sheffield, The Lescar02/06/2018 York, The Basement03/06/2018 Newcastle – The Stand04/06/2018 Leeds, Duke Studios08/06/2018 Southampton, Hanger Farm09/06/2018 Cambridge Junction12/06/2018 Edinburgh, The Monkey Barrel13/06/2018 Glasgow, The Stand15/06/2018 Birmingham Glee17/06/2018 Brighton Komedia21-23 June London, Soho Theatre29/06/2018 Tringe Festival Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Very funny, amazingly watchable, and offering genuine insight into his personal and social politics, Tez Ilyas is a Northern, working-class, muslim comic capable of going all the way. Exceptionally frank about his disappointment on being overlooked for award nomination, he goes on to identify the historic lack of diversity on the judging panel of one of the most highly regarded prizes in British comedy...  www.tezilyas.com | @tezilyas  Stu's tour info at www.comedianscomedian.com/tourGet ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComCom Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Her laid-back style masking a sly wit that rewards your full attention, Beth Stelling is an indomitable comic force.Live at SXSW, we discuss risk and reward with regard to pace, bridging alt and mainstream, "putting your briefcase away" when it comes to your set-list, and why she'll never make another bagel sandwich...www.sweetbeth.com@bethstellingSee Stu on tour in the UK at www.comedianscomedian.com/tourSupport the podcast at www.comedianscomedian.com/donate@comcompodwww.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's hard to imagine a more expressive, searingly honest and comprehensively funny comic than Maria Bamford. After a year which saw her series and new special on Netflix propel her finally to the earning that befits her talent, Maria reflects on how money, property and prestige don't solve anything, what it's like to be an ex-underdog, and whether it's possible to make a not for profit TV show. We also cover the relationship between her bipolar and her day to day happiness, and ask how you function when "weakness is the brand"... @MariaBamfoomariabamford.comSee Stu on tour: www.comedianscomedian.com/tourGet ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Celebrating the release of hilarious and terrifying new movie "Ghost Stories", co-creators and childhood friends Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson talk to Stu about the myriad connections between comedy and horror... Best known as the invisible fourth member of British comedy legends The League of Gentlemen, Jeremy Dyson is expert at making the familiar unfamiliar. We talk here about the elegantly simple process that he and Andy used to develop "Ghost Stories" from page to West End stage to screen, and discover a jaw-dropping fact about the forthcoming League live tour! See Stu on tour: www.comedianscomedian.com/tourGet ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Celebrating the release of hilarious and terrifying new movie "Ghost Stories", co-creators Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson talk to Stu about the myriad connections between comedy and horror... Now known primarily for his acting work, Andy was once the silent partner of genre-redefining magician Derren Brown. We talk in detail about misdirection, rhythm and dramatic tension, share Andy's indignation at copycat performers, and find out whether it's cooler to be Bernie than Elton... See Stu on tour: www.comedianscomedian.com/tourSupport the podcast: www.comedianscomedian.com/donate Ghost Stories is out this week at UK cinemas! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Davis' star is in the ascendent. In this live special episode from South By South West in Austin Texas, we discuss how the "Hood Adjacent" comic keeps his material provocative without being exploitative. Just off the back of writing gags for Will Smith on a major new movie, we learn how James is levelling up...  James on Twitter: @TheJamesDavisJames on Insta: instagram.com/theejamesdavis@comcompod See Stu on tour in the UK HERE Extra content available to donors at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marvellous Maeve Higgins has an apparently meandering style that conceals some seismic punchlines. Now resident in the US, she reveals how running a comedy workshop in Iraq and podcasting with different immigrants has led her to a more global consciousness. She shares some brilliant writing "cheats" for silencing your inner critic, and we explore in detail the close relationships she has cultivated with the editors of her novels and column... Find Maeve at www.maevehiggins.com or on Twitter @maeveinamerica @comcompodSee Stu on tour in the UK HERE Bonus content and extra content from the Comcom back-catalogue available at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Provocative, disarmingly frank and very funny, Ola is an emphatic voice in British comedy. As well as getting into the nitty-gritty of his creativity, we discuss Ola's faith as the foundation of his self-belief, and take a whirlwind tour through #WhiteTears, intersectionality and how he feels about wielding the racial discomfort of his audience...  www.olathecomedian.com@olathecomedianSunday Service @comcompodSee Stu on tour in the UK at www.comedianscomedian.com/tourSupport the podcast at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An astonishingly original and creative approach to comedy finds El Salvadoran American "space prince" and SNL writer Julio Torres describing his favourite shapes to an audience, at some length. One of the most arresting comics around, we talk about his stillness, his spontaneity, and why he won't and/or can't change gear... spaceprincejulio.tumblr.cominstagram.com/spaceprincejulio@juliothesquare @comcompodSee Stu on tour in the UK at www.comedianscomedian.com/tourSign up for bonus content and loads of extras at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Colin's sublime creation "Anna Mann" is a faded actress (little ripple of recognition?) on a mission to fight the fascists! But she is only the tip of phenomenally creative and hilarious iceberg of talent. We shine a light on the darkness of his "Carnival of Monsters", and discuss surviving depression, moving on from a double-act, and get some unbelievable detail on how he "invites Anna in"...See Anna on tour at www.colinhoult.net/tourAnd discover Anna's new podcast by following @ColinHoult on Twitter! See Stu's on tour: www.comedianscomedian.com/tourSupport the podcast: www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersSubmit your own original comedy material to "Everyone's A Comedian" at comedianscomedian.com/experiment - check the site for more details! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Her writing and performance in The Fast Show made her one of the most influential women in British sketch comedy; now Arabella Weir reflects on her work and the balance of power underpinning the five-man, most-often-one-woman sketch team. We discuss the tension and friction of making comedy; whether a happy person still has the same hunger to perform; and learn the awful truth about the genesis of her character "Girl Who Boys Can't Hear"...Follow Arabella on twitter: @arabellaweir See Stu's on tour: www.comedianscomedian.com/tourExclusive bonus content and ad-free shows: www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is my new standup album "Compared To What", which was my 2016 fringe show and my 2017 tour. If you enjoy it, you might consider liberally pasting the internet with this link to my new tour "Like I Mean It" - www.comedianscomedian.com/tour  And if you loved it to bits you can buy a slightly better sound quality version, split into tracks like A Real Thing at https://tinyurl.com/y9w667du Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Motormouth reporter Jonathan Pie is the creation of motormouth actor Tom Walker. His online videos of a furious news reporter apparently caught on camera are massively viral and often hilarious. We talk about the synthesis of an internet character into a live show, discover the politics of the writing team behind the agitator, and encounter the pressures of a weekly commitment to content. www.jonathanpie.com See Stu's on tour: www.comedianscomedian.com/tourSupport the podcast: www.comedianscomedian.com/donate Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second part of our conversation, comedy craftsman James Acaster examines his relationship to his audience, and how that changes under a variety of different pressures, and also reveals why he never sits down to write.Unlock 45 mins of extra material from this conversation detailing James' reaction to comedy criticism, and some brilliant advice he once gave Stu, at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders www.jamesacaster.com Get tickets for James' tour: here See Stu's on tour: www.comedianscomedian.com/tour Buy Stu's new comedy album "Compared To What" here: comedianscomedian.bandcamp.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About to drop four interlinked standup specials on Netflix, James Acaster is also the only comedian ever to have been nominated for the Edinburgh comedy award five years in a row. One of the defining comic voices of his generation, he returns to the show to share his writing process and how he sneaked out an autobiography by stealth... www.jamesacaster.com Get tickets for James' tour: here See Stu on tour: www.comedianscomedian.com/tour Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersBuy Stu's new comedy album "Compared To What" here: comedianscomedian.bandcamp.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jess "Mighty Voice" Robinson is a phenomenal vocalist and impressionist, who has her audiences in tears of bliss as well as laughter. We talk about her experience on "Britain's Got Talent" when she was "outed" by press as a seasoned professional, and learn how to survive stage school. Finally Jess overcomes her desire to please, and very honestly and painfully reveals why a standing ovation never seems "enough"... www.jessrobinson.co.uk | @JessieRobinson See Stu on tour www.comedianscomedian.com/tour Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dane Baptiste is raising the bar for articulate, socially-conscious stand-up, and pulls no intellectual punches in this conversation, which takes in chakras, Arthur Maslow's hierarchy of needs and transcendental perception... We talk about what it means to be the first black Briton to be nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award; why validation, gratification and dopamine aren't the end goal; and why he's a goofball.Dane in the Guardian  @DaneBaptweets |www.danebaptiste.co.uk Find out more about the podcast including the top ten episodes as voted for by the listeners at www.comedianscomedian.comSee Stu's standup tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@comcompod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I've never seen such an immediate standing ovation as the one we gave Zoe Coombs-Marr at the end of her show "Trigger Warning" this year. Her multiple award-winning creation "Dave" is a troubled hack comic and the centre of an awesomely meta-textual subversion and dismantling of the craft of comedy. We talk about the range and limits of character work, learn about feminist super-group show "Wild Bore", and find out why she'd be happy to fail if it meant the world changed. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersSee Stu on tour www.comedianscomedian.com/tourJoin the growing Facebook comcompod community HERE@ComComPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Uniquely funny and inventive stand-up Howard Read has recently been performing a double-act with an animated cartoon child version of himself. We discuss the madness behind his method, explore the hazards of improvising double-act banter with oneself, and learn what he can and can't get away with...Good luck getting the Haberdashery song out of your head!www.howardread.comBrowse over 200 episodes at www.comedianscomedian.com and Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersSee Stu on tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Celebrating the release of Brian's Netflix special, his work now available in the UK for the first time, we're proud to bring you this blast from the past!  Well, 2016...Brian Regan is the undisputed master of the "act-out", reducing audiences to tears of joy as he inhabits one potent premise after another. We squeezed in half an hour backstage to talk about how he shapes and annotates his "vignettes", and find out why everyone considers him the nicest man in comedy.(Note to UK-based listeners. Even if you don't always download non-UK acts, please just give this a whirl; it's only short and he's INCREDIBLE.)Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersSee Stu on tour www.comedianscomedian.com/tourJoin the growing Facebook comcompod community HERE@ComComPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A superb comedian story-teller, Sarah Kendall's work is suffused with genuine meaning.  She talks vividly here about controlling her anxiety and the aftermath of a nervous breakdown.  We also delve into some specifics, including the financial imperative of turning over new work annually, and how she had to re-discover her audience after time away from the fringe... Sarah's latest tour show: https://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2017/sarah_kendall/ Support the podcast with a recurring donation! www.comedianscomedian.com Stu's spring tour now on sale! www.comedianscomedian.com/tour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Infused with the lyrical virtuosity of his native New Orleans, comic and story-teller Sean Patton is adept at finding the meaningful in the profane. We talk about his OCD; his fixation on the art and craft of comedy; why he favours purity over people-pleasing; and how the high school bullshit seeps back into the circuit... Buy Sean's album "Standard Operating Procedure" http://meseanpatton.com/merch/See Stu Goldsmith on tour www.comedianscomedian.com/tour Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@comcompod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded at the close of the Edinburgh festival, this toweringly-charismatic lay-preacher of comedy is astonishingly candid in his reflection on the past few years. We get deep into some very personal stuff, as Reg reveals how his struggle to grieve for his late mother led to a years-long dark period. We learn what steps he took personally and creatively to recover; discover what bugs Reg about himself; and ask some difficult questions about his attitude towards women. *Please be aware that this conversation features some offensive language, including the use of a homophobic slur* Watch Reg on tour: http://www.reginalddhunter.com/uk-tour-2017/ Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersAffected by the post-ramble? Have a look at these things men can do to change our work and life culture: www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/oct/16/a-simple-list-of-things-men-can-do-to-change-our-work-and-life-culture Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the writers and stars of Northern Ireland's most successful sitcom "Give My Head Peace", wonderful Tim McGarry is adept at walking the tightrope of offence. We talk about his origins with The Hole In The Wall Gang; how it felt to write sketches about paramilitaries during the Troubles; and Stuart asks a "wanky" question that yields some interesting results...Listen to "A Perforated Ulster"Learn about "Give My Head Peace"Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@comcompod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is there such a thing as warm malice? One of the UK's classiest comics, Jo Caulfield wields spite like a glittering scalpel, to hilarious effect. We talk about her evolving relationship to her audience, discover the holy grail of TV warm-up, and consider changing the names to protect the innocent...www.jocaulfield.comGet ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this "lost" episode recorded in Edinburgh in 2016, Joe DeRosa peels back the layers of his hilariously disgruntled standup about anxiety, therapy and suicide. He rails against comedy being used to self-serve, champions the rebellious spirit of the comedian, and details fearlessly walking away from opportunity... Joe's new special "You Let Me Down" is now available to purchase all over the internet. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fuelled by a seemingly-bottomless well of anger, and capable of articulating it hilariously, Michael Legge rages that life isn't as beautiful as it should be. We learn how his own righteous ire mimics that of his bulletproof mum, discover the origins of twitter game #FuckAThing, and just at the end get him to say something pretentious about art. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former SNL cast-member Sasheer is a phenomenally accomplished standup and comic actor, as well as a celebrity ambassador for the ACLU. At Just For Laughs Montreal, we discuss the confidence with which she frames her act, delve into her first standup special "Pizza Mind", and uncover her enthusiasm for life-coaching and it's effect on the finely-honed application of her will power...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Montreal's biggest comedy export, Sugar Sammy is a textbook example of a comic who made it happen all by himself. We discuss the cultural currents involved with his ability to headline a show in four different languages; his focus on quality control, from pruning his online presence to interviewing audience-members post-show; and find out why he wants to get better at holding his nerve...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Possessed of an inordinate self-belief, Liza Treyger is one of the sharpest, funniest comics ever to not give a shit what you think of her. Named one of Variety's "Ten To Watch" at this year's Just For Laughs, the Odessa-born firebrand discusses how a trip to Palm Springs with a stylist changed her brain; her self-sabotage techniques; wanting women to have a great time, and how to tell which couples in an audience aren't fucking. Follow Liza Treyger @GlitterCheeseGet ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedy powerhouse Kamau finds time in-between podcasting, writing, and hosting the Emmy Award nominated "United Shades of America"on CNN, to produce deliriously funny sociopolitical standup. We talk about swerving the obvious joke, the balance of vulnerability and power, and find out why even Chris Rock said Kamau talks too much about racism...Get tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A phenomenally accomplished comic improviser and character comedian, Andy Daly revels in revealing the blackly comic internal lives of his creations. We talk about his show "Review With Forrest McNeil", discover how playing on Comedy Bang Bang helps develop his characters, find out what makes Andy's wife roll her eyes, and enjoy a wee bit o' blarney... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Venezuelan Ivan is a comic powerhouse, with an intensely scientific approach underpinning his sensual performance. Self-taught by translating classic routines into Spanish, he's achieved a genuine mastery of the ingredients necessary for faultless joke structure; as soon as he starts outlining Louis CK's "foundational premise", you'll be hooked... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A globe-trotting man-bear with a fiery beard and a heart of gold, Nick Cody becomes the audience's best friend on sight, but doesn't skimp on big-hitting routines. We talk about the parallels in achievement between sport and comedy, targeting the whole world's audience, and Conor McGregor... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Responsible for some of the funniest and most intelligent one-liners in the world, Simon Munnery has a brain like none other. Rarely will you find another comic so enthralled by serving "the idea", whether through Kierkegaardian prose or innovative but unreliable technology. Simon reveals his approach to writing epigrammatic jokes, and Stu gently bullies him into trying harder to get back on TV. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A bright young thing of the Boston comedy scene, Orlando Baxter conceals a sharp wit beneath a laidback persona. We talk about college gigs, Set-List, and why Americans ostentatiously carry their phones onstage. We also explore his reticence to go deep into his own life experiences, the importance of putting asses in seats, and why YouTubers can't hide...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For more than 50 years Barry Cryer OBE has been a lynchpin of British comedy. Having written for Morecambe & Wise, Tommy Cooper, The Frost Report and Kenny Everett, he still performs in "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue" and will be appearing live once again at the year's Edinburgh Festival. We discuss joke structure, word choice and rapport, and Stu achieves a life-long ambition by telling Barry the "Beekeepers" joke. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In-between appearing in Olivier Award-winning improvised musical "Showstopper!" and co-founding the "radically inclusive global movement" Sunday Assembly, Pippa Evans is a poly-performative stand-up, singer and actress. We talk about what made her character "Loretta Maine" so successful, and some of the inherent drawbacks; and we discuss her unique brand of self-confidence, the moment her jealousy overcame her, and how she dealt with the fallout... See more of Pippa at www.pippaevans.com Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Clean-cut to within an inch of his life, spunky Ed Gamble is a deft young comic who attributes his burgeoning success to being in the right place at the right time. We discuss the affect on his persona of the "Peacock & Gamble" double-act, learn how he created comedian Nish Kumar and tremble before his voracious appetite (for tagging jokes).Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this quicky micro-pod, Stu talks all soppy like about his recent nuptials.  (Also T-shirt pre-sale info and a quick ad for some London previews this weekend he neglected to advertise.  At all.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since the 1980's Jo Brand has been synonymous with the best of British comedy, rising to the top of the industry at a time when female comics were outnumbered sixteen to one. We find out whether her grumpiness is an act, applaud her resilience in the face of some of the disgraceful things people have said to her, and discover her feelings about the place of "fat" jokes in a perhaps more progressive 2017. Very strong language from the beginning of the episode. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Multiple award-botherer Tom is well-read, politically-conscious and adept at turning argument into meaningful comedy. He's also really aggravatingly young and funny and successful. We discuss his politicisation, his approach to writing and editing, and whether he deliberately left his show-script out on his desk for Stu to see... Catch up with Tom at www.tomballard.com.au Tom's podcast "Like I'm A Six Year Old" Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A punchline powerhouse with a genuinely unique act, Lee Ridley is adept at skewering his audience's unspoken prejudices. Unable to speak due to his cerebral palsy, Lee communicates entirely through an electronic aid, on- and off-stage. We discuss how he overcomes the specific challenges this presents to a comic, and learn in more than usual detail how he "found his voice". And why he chose that accent...Follow Lee's work at lostvoiceguy.comGet ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Immaculate in appearance, delivery and hit-rate, Rhys Nicholson is a perfectly-balanced cocktail of a comedian. We discuss the relationship between his face, his "face" and the world of drag, and zero in on the pressures of following up an award-nominated show... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In his fourth decade as a comic, Jeremy Hardy is a staple of British comedy radio. His passion for vivid, punchline-filled writing is further enlivened by his political fervour. We find out what people most often get wrong about the birth of alternative comedy, discuss his choice of words and analogies, and explore why he hates being labelled a political comic. @ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aunty Donna are a six-man sketch team with specialists in video, sound design and stage direction reinforcing the classic clown family of octopus Statham, wild-eyed loon and wanking sex-monkey. We talk about the method behind the madness, the effect their online presence has on their creativity, and the meetings required to steer a six person/six partner battleship.TheAuntyDonnaChannel | www.auntydonna.com Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Having grown up in Tasmania at a time when her very sexuality was illegal, Hannah Gadsby has forged her anger into an annihilating comic weapon. Her new show "Nanette" is a heart-wrenching piece of work that rails against the failings of comedy itself to tell enough of the truth. We talk about honesty and accessibility, and her decision to stop being a comedian.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No interview this week, but loads of great ones on the way, so this week I'm giving you an update of what's been happening in Melbourne. If you're going to the Melbourne Comedy Festival then make sure you see Deanne Smith, Aunty Donna, Aaron Chen, Tom Walker, Des Bishop, Ahir Shah, Becky Lucas and Rebecca Walker. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Global comedy superstar Russell Brand is studying for a degree, raising a new baby, and assembling a new two-year tour. An Essex boy with cosmic ambition, his art is obsessed with finding the transcendent in the mundane. We talk about his joy in "scribbling on reality", how he employs language to hijack and seed discourse, and the art of disruption... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the most iconoclastic, pioneering and influential comedians in Britain, Stewart Lee has forged his post-punk ideals into a thrillingly funny live act, with the very form at his fingertips.We explore the deliberately uncomfortable tension between the man and the stage persona; discuss his self-imposed exclusion from the comedy community; and investigate his unshakeable conviction that he is in fact unsuccessful.Follow Stewart on tour www.stewartlee.co.ukGet ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An electrifying live performer, with a casual brutality that has audiences laughing despite themselves, Paul Chowdhry sells far more tickets than his mid-level TV profile might suggest. We talk about his outsider status, the racial abuse he suffered as a child, and the responsibility or otherwise of the comedian to challenge the status quo.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Forward is one of Canada's finest comic exports, with a genuinely off-the-wall approach to his comedy, and the resolve that comes of having retired and come back to the profession. We talk about humble arrogance; looking for milestones; the joy of silence; and ask how many people have to tell you you're good before you believe them...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phil Wang is a suave dork, a confident nerd, a feminist creep and a very funny young man. We uncover his childhood being hit with sticks in Malaysia, and track his comedy odyssey via presidency of Cambridge Footlights to "Have I Got News For You?" (BBC). We also talk about the development and shrewd positioning of his sketch outfit "Daphne", and his relationship to the word "yellow".Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian, singer, musician and key member of improvisational powerhouse "Austentatious", Rachel Parris revels in undercutting her nice girl image with some tough material. We talk about how audiences listen differently to talking and singing; how to survive the sinking feeling of a tough festival; and her experience spinning a chat with the Samaritans into comedy gold...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour You can email Samaritans at any time – jo@samaritans.orgWhatever you're going through, call Samaritans free any time, from any phone in the UK on 116 123.Samaritans are all volunteers, all there round the clock, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you need a response immediately, it's best to call on the phone. The number is FREE to call. You don't have to be suicidal to call.@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elis James and John Robins have both appeared on the show before as comics in their own right, but in this live special we focus on the work that goes into their endlessly funny and heartfelt radio and podcast double-act. We explore the hidden language of the show, the dramatic improvement in their standup work, and a factually accurate description of the band Queen...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brian Regan is the undisputed master of the "act-out", reducing audiences to tears of joy as he inhabits one potent premise after another. We squeezed in half an hour backstage to talk about how he shapes and annotates his "vignettes", and find out why everyone considers him the nicest man in comedy.Note to UK-based listeners... Even if you don't always download non-UK acts, please just give this a whirl; it's only short and he's INCREDIBLE.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Radio and TV regular Angela is a prodigious joke-writer with a reputation for sharp material delivered in a world-weary manner. A former mental health professional, who "lost" her twenties to mental health problems she could deftly conceal, we talk about topical and political comedy, and ask whether her punchline density is really driven by insecurity...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Like a reverse superhero, Elis James is a warm and charismatic story-teller, able to summon a hilarious, tiny-fisted, ranting neurotic from a parallel universe. We discuss how his persona changes when performing in English or his native Welsh, explore his sumptuous vocabulary, and unpack his superbly anecdotal style.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pappys return to the show after four years to discuss BBC3's Badults, live shows, their future together, and whether they'll ever go back to Edinburgh. Laughter, tears and dickheads in a very festive special episode...Download the accompanying episode from Pappy's Flatshare SlamdownGet ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fern Brady is a fiercely funny and provocative comic, with an invigorating ability to combine eloquence and bluntness. A Guardian columnist and accidental spokesperson, she talks here about managing her anger, her frustrated attempts to make friends, and why she's often surprised to hear that she doesn't give a fuck...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Softly spoken and absolutely committed to the truth, Chris Gethard took Edinburgh by storm with a searingly honest and blackly funny show about depression and attempted suicide. We talk about creativity and catharsis, his superb blogs, and whether or not performing is therapy...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of comedy's happiest and most humble men, Andy Askins reduces audiences to tears with his beautifully subtle and innocent-seeming punchlines. We discover the extraordinary backstory to his career, and find out about the decisions behind his whispered powerhouse performance.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carmen Lynch combines deft writing, rhythm and performative poise, to deadly effect. We talk about stopping and re-starting comedy, and how it feels to escape from the day-job a second time. We also explore the beauty in simplicity, how to beat shyness with performance, and her recent spots on Letterman and Conan.Follow @lynchcarmen or go to www.carmenlynch.com for more info.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A lot has changed since Old Tone's last appearance on the podcast. He's clean, sober and re-launching, but no less of a uniquely hilarious act.We talk about how he's trying to extract value from everything in his life, and look back on how, like Obelix, he fell into the potion...Enjoy ad-free episodes plus a ton of extra content from interviews, as well as access to the private podcast and our super-fan community at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders @comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonny Donahoe and Paddy Gervers are political musical comics with real jokes, real music and real politics. Regulars on R4's The Now Show, and creators of iTunes chart-topping "The Farage Song", they discuss the creative dynamic behind their work, and profess a disgusting amount of love and respect for one another. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Legendary comic Barry Crimmins kickstarted Boston's comedy scene in the 1980s, testified to the Senate against AOL.com profiteering from child pornography, and is to this day both a political firebrand and an intensely kind man. We talk about his new special "Whatever Threatens You", released this week by Louis CK; political comedy and being your own trusted source; and Barry also acknowledges the personal cost of a life of activism.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sweaty, bearded turbo-clown Paul Currie's shows are stuffed with unforgettable images, feelings and smells. Beloved of comedy's intelligentsia, this award-winning performer doesn't let go of your heart until the last cornflake is eaten and the last tear shed. We discuss the cultural ecology of his native Northern Ireland; the difficulties of working in isolation; and we also talk about how the apparent vogue for clowning affects a veteran performer. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A small-town girl who realised pretty late she was a giant lesbian, Cameron Esposito has evolved into a hilarious alpha-female hero comic. We talk about body-shaming, power-stances and side-mullets, and why this next decade is going to be awesome for women...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Erudite stand-up, amazingly elastic improviser, and Goldsmith facial-resembler, John Robins is hitting his stride. We talk about the difficulties of changing gear mid-career, treating writing shows like writing essays, and being driven by shame. Find tickets for John's podcast live tour at www.elisandjohn.comGet ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Multiple Tony and Olivier Award-winner, and Emmy-nominee Tim Minchin went from gigging keyboardist, to Royal Albert Hall smash hit, to Dreamworks director. We explore the dynamic between Tim's easy-going exterior and his internal driving force, learn his true feelings towards his own voice, and find out how he feels about death... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why is Emmy-nominated South-African satirist and comedian Loyiso is treated like a rock-star by his nation's politicians? We explore the ability of SA comics to be outsiders to both UK and US culture, talk about his forthcoming Vimeo special, and learn why some comic ideas in the Xhosa language are untranslatable... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Lewis Black the angriest man in America? We discuss Lewis' origins in theatre, his turnover of topical material, particularly in an election cycle, and the trigger points from which he derives his explosive creativity. We also find out why silence is where you hear the joke...  Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A provocative and genuine comic, Tiff pulls apart her subject matter like a terrier, mining huge laughs from political, topical and personal subjects. We talk about agency, process and sexism, and explore the creative opportunities afforded by her stewardship of London's "Old Rope" new material night.See Tiff's forthcoming tour.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the top of his game, stand-up Bill Burr is conquering the planet with an extraordinary creative ferocity. He delights in unsettling audiences by saying the un-sayable, before justifying his comic position with inspiring verve. We learn the tricks he uses to break out of routine onstage, explode the myth of finding one's voice, and also have a really invigorating argument about privilege...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's dry, and then there's Todd Barry. On his "Crowdwork" tour, Todd's skill in low-energy one-liners allows him to spin unexpected angles into truly original audience interaction. We discuss writing habits, beating ideas to death onstage, and how it feels to play two different fictionalised versions of himself simultaneously...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wendy Wason gigs hard and acts in movies - but still juggles her comedy career with raising three children. We discuss her solid work ethic and achieving the "discipline of happiness", and find out how she became the most hated woman on a movie set. We also talk about turning your audience on, fetishising honesty, and there's also some slightly weird stuff about crystals...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Superbly funny and very skilled Jinkx Monsoon won RuPaul's Drag Race IV, and with long-term collaborator Major Scales is continuing to weave that very public success into an established comedy career. We discuss maintaining individuality within the confines of reality TV, the shared territory between a drag persona and a comic voice, and how transformation affects the true self. We also cover accusations of transphobia, the assumptions made of drag performers' gender identity, and Jinkxy's "bitterness towards stupid people"...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brilliant British-Nigerian comic Funmbi shares a fascinating take on his transition from the urban circuit to the mainstream, and his reasoning behind the move. We also explore the dynamic between hype, substance and longevity, and get schooled on the inner mechanisms of the cussing battles which he mastered as a child...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As you might expect from the impish British-Iranian comic who wears her heart on her sleeve, this conversation gets pretty deep pretty fast! We talk about shifting status, manufacturing common ground with your crowd and the nature of addiction. We also discover Shappi's recent enthusiasm for "giving love" to an audience, and what it's like when the comedy circuit starts to resemble the playground... Support the podcast at www.comedianscomedian.com/donate Free copies of "Break Glass In Case Of Emergency" at www.comedianscomedian.com/shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Star of "Good News" and "Stand-up Central" as well as a former "Mock the Week" team captain, Russell Howard is also one of the UK's most electrifying live performers. In this unusually candid interview, he exposes the unique pressures of fronting your own TV show, uncovers whether his success has made him happy, and we find out what you say to yourself after walking offstage at Wembley Arena...Download 45 mins of free additional content from this interview at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders and help support the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rigorously intellectual and brilliantly poetic, Liam Williams approaches comedy like writing a novel, but does he even enjoy standup? We talk about his experience of Cambridge Footlights, and examine a magpie approach to high culture; we also explore the lessons learnt from punching walls and falling out of windows... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Urbane, charming and totally in touch with what makes him funny, Joe Lycett is the figurehead for a new generation of British comics. We talk technique in detail, digging into "Pomodoro" and renting an office in which to work. We also cover Joe's bisexuality, the nature of camp and what it means today, and the exact degree of truth involved in his absurdist catfishing of public institutions...Download your free copy of the optimism-injection compilation "Break Glass In Case Of Emergency" at www.comedianscomedian.com/shopGet ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Darkly silly stand-up and clown Seymour Mace channels his anger and bitterness through a lens of pure sunshine. He talks candidly about the challenges of living with depression in comedy; hating people who you know to be nice, the fear of returning to counselling, and letting yourself be happy. We also blow the lid off Cake Club...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brash but vulnerable, explicit but innocent, Abigoliah Schamaun loves whisky and hot yoga. We talk about her trans-atlantic transplant and the difference between bullies and wafflers, as well as getting stuck into gender norms and dirty jokes. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Accelerating through the comedy industry with dizzying speed, BAFTA-nominated Romesh nonetheless has a quiet authority reminiscent of your favourite teacher. We explore his fearlessness, the support of his family, and his exceptionally lean writing, as well as investigating the danger of becoming a representative. Of grumpy pricks...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two, Jimmy Carr explores the application of Neuro-Linguistic Programming to his personal life and work, and we learn the most common mistake he sees newer comedians make on panel shows. We also get to grips with his recent switch from DVD releases to Netflix, and discover the surprising way in which he's regarded in the USA. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this first part of a two hour interview with one of the UK's most respected comedians, Jimmy Carr reveals the inner mechanism of his bulletproof stage act. We focus on his extraordinary ease with hecklers, his mastery of put-downs, and we learn some of the techniques he uses to mint hundreds of new jokes every year. But is he as invincible emotionally as he appears to be onstage?Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Uncle Mike" tells it like it is. A veteran standup possessed of an extraordinarily empathic relationship with his crowd, Mike loves enrapturing and abusing his audience with dirty gags your mum would accept from no-one else. There's life in this aging warhorse... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With a cut-glass accent that reflects her precision-tooled comedy, Tania Edwards inflicts maximum damage with faint praise. We talk about her process, her practice and her peeves - and learn why you can't have your cake and eat it too... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the most inventive comics in Britain, documentary pioneer Dave Gorman gives us a genuinely thorough and methodical analysis of the four (or more) phases of his career. We discuss the TV show he's least proud of, the wince-inducing way he found out a show wasn't re-commissioned, and dig into the critical value of structure (Gorman-esque or otherwise...)Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bird-flipping, bumhole-shouting Gein's Family Giftshop are horror-obsessed, wildly inventive and deeply funny. We dig into the internal dynamics of the group, find out why they don't wear wigs, and examine the crucial role played by their unseen fourth member. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Winner of two UK Barry Awards - voted on by comedians - for his 2015 show "Proper Job", Spencer Jones is a natural born, funny-boned twinkler. Never mind his clowning, props, vocal loops and charming idiocy, he reduces an audience to tears just by walking on to the stage. The hard work and professionalism underpinning the chaos might surprise you... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With appearances on "Conan", "Letterman" and "Totally Biased", comic firebrand Hari Kondabolu has a lot to say, and the research to back it up. We discuss the New Yorker's politicisation post-9/11; a comic's license to simplify a political argument; and what happens when a healthy social life requires a bit of discretion. Hari also argues passionately against UK comedy's fixation with producing a new fringe-ready hour every year, and we uncover that rarest of problems: when the crowd goes too wild...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With his own Radio Four series and a raft of Mock The Week appearances under his belt, Nathan Caton remains astonishingly down to earth and level-headed. We explore panel-show tactics, discuss using comedy to heal people close to you, and learn how he was dropped by a leading agent out of the blue. He's happy, well-balanced and kind - will Stu manage to crack the bastard? Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wise beyond his years, the innocent-seeming Matt Kirshen has an extraordinary breadth of experience in UK comedy, even before "Last Comic Standing" introduced him to an American audience. As well as some very vigorous technical analysis, the perky polymath gives us a uniquely transatlantic perspective on how it all works, and goes hog-wild for tagging jokes...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wickedly spiky and dry as sand, controversy-courting stand-up Jena Friedman has writing credits for "Letterman" and "The Daily Show" under her belt. We discover her unusual origin, as her thesis on Chicago's improv scene drew her into the undertow of the comedy world, and talk in depth about the courage required to "own" difficult material...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In at the beginning of alternative comedy, and now a "venerated lefty" and Columnist Of The Year 2015, punchy pundit Mark Steel has lost none of his passion. We discuss his BBC Radio 4 series which pokes fun at the British on a town-by-town basis, learn about the startling revelations of his personal history, and hear how he rubs shoulders with the enemy, backstage at "Question Time"...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stand-up; songwriter; Peep Show's "Dobby"; and under it all still "The girl who jumped off Matlock Bridge for a quid", Isy Suttie applies a psychedelic imagination to her forensic grasp of life's minutiae. We explore the stubbornness that underpins her eccentricity, dissect the word "whimsical", and accidentally vomit into a spiderweb.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alarmingly successful for one so young, tender wee boy Daniel Sloss likes to get his teeth into an argument on stage. We discuss the pleasures and pitfalls of really committing to an angle, as well as learning who urinated on whose bag... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ronny Chieng is the fastest-rising new comic in Australia, with huge audiences flocking to his shows from the word go. With a boxer's eye for society's weak spots, he's at the forefront of a new generation of comics who plan for global domination. We talk supporting Bill Burr, paying in pizza for the freedom to experiment, and why a show is always a "special"...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"How dare I not be entertaining!?" One of the world's greatest one-liner comics, Stewart Francis brings his quickfire mind to bear on the podcast, and gets grappling. For a man who claims he has no need to perform, Stewart seems utterly unwilling to let go of the gags, but what starts as a scuffle begins to yield some insight into a professed disdain for self-indulgence. Will we learn more about him here than his audience ever do?Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An extraordinary education in stand-up from someone who's been doing it since the seventies! San Francisco-based Will Durst mixes observations about life in one's sixties, as well as political fire-brandery that swirls from column to stage. We talk about: the backbeat of jokes; escaping the responsibilities of adult life; "running twice as fast just to stay in the same place" and getting kicked out of the White House...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An irrepressibly charming personality, Aisling Bea's standup bubbles over with unusual perspectives and ludicrous family stories; few acts have climbed as high as fast. She talks here about finding a balance between her sitcom success and her comedy career, intimidating herself, and loving working...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing Jason Byrne to an audience is like dropping a vitamin tablet into a glass of water; his shows are a masterclass in improvised mayhem. He talks here about the challenges of translating that madness onto TV, examines the structure of a particularly memorable incident in real depth, and also discusses the times when the show hasn't catalysed as he wanted.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Known for years as being the guy whose unchecked anger screwed up his career, Dave Anthony has resolved his issues and enjoys a career which straddles standup, podcasting, and being a writer on Maron. We talk about self-sabotage, the dangers of being "solid", and his desire to break with the US tradition of non-themed comedy shows. Has podcasting vanquished the old gatekeepers, and have new ones have emerged, including perhaps Dave himself?Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second part of our conversation, Jimmy Pardo discusses his incredibly successful "Never Not Funny" podcast, the super fans who regularly go to great lengths to see the show, and the "misfitness" of the podcast audience. That's you people. We love you. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sick of being told he was the funniest guy off-stage, something had to change for lightning-fast wise-cracker Jimmy Pardo. Fortunately it did, and he became the "self-deprecating blowhard" America knows and loves today. We talk about the pros and cons of opening for Conan O'Brien, and explore the irresistible allure of TV, even in the face of new media. But can you ever escape feeling like you can't write a joke?Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this second part of our conversation, blisteringly funny Todd Glass issues a passionate call to people to "keep evolving". He also details the cash wager with comedian David Cross that saw him push a piece of material to its limits, and reveals a cunning plan for some technological trickery to make his arguments onstage more resonant...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Todd Glass is a runaway train; stoked by righteous anger, coupled together by a natural warmth. Known for coming out of the closet some thirty years into his career, he talks here about the ramifications of that announcement, his propensity to be "always on", and how rage can fuel liberalism.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charismatic, stubborn and powerful, Jackie Kashian might have started off life as a "spooky reading girl", but is now the rallying champion of nerd comedy. Head Ranger of The Dork Forest podcast, and writing partner of Maria Bamford, she produces very funny and robust material that stands up for the weakest in society. But how can you become a Zen comic like her?Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Having chosen possibly the only career where his good looks can count against him, comedy- and creativity-addict Joel defies those who would write him off as an MTV jawline. We get stuck into his moving, inventive and hilarious solo shows and their tricksy relationship with the truth, and discuss whether comedy has to stand up in court. We also meet his collaborator Steve Dunne, and learn the rules to the wildly irresponsible game "knifey knifey crash mat".*DO NOT PLAY KNIFEY KNIFEY CRASH MAT*Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the most recognisable faces in UK comedy, Matt Lucas charts his journey from Shooting Stars' improvising baby-grow nutcase George Dawes, to the double-act with David Walliams that made him a household name, to his most recent foray into purely physical comedy Pompidou.We explore his writing and creative process, and as well as unpacking the controversy surrounding Little Britain and Come Fly With Me, we learn what drives Matt, and whether his success has brought him happiness.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Canadian comic Mae Martin combines sparkling punchlines and disarming candour in her deeply personal standup. We talk about her startling origin as an audience volunteer, gender politics, and we investigate her responsibility or otherwise to her audience. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedy speaks through Tommy Tiernan like an elemental force. One of Ireland's most respected comic exports, his latest challenge is to improvise an hour without repeating anything he's ever said before. We discuss the problems this presents, what led him to take it on, and where and when to wave your mickey in the moonlight...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sage-like producer of QI, Blackadder, Not The Nine O'Clock News and forty years' worth of some of Britain's finest comedy TV and radio, John Lloyd could be forgiven for resting on his considerable laurels. Instead he's brought his third standup show to the fringe, and talks here about process, legacy and how he philosophised himself out of a deep depression...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Red in tooth and claw, Katherine Ryan is adept at shredding celebrities and has a few choice words too for her sister's whore friends. She reveals a gentleness behind the exterior that critics love to call "waspish", and talks us through the moral principles that guide her sting...You can find details of  ComComPod Live at the Edinburgh Fringe here, as well as Stu’s solo show, 'An Hour'.Support the podcast by hitting “donate” at comedianscomedian.comJimmy Carr, Frankie Boyle, Joan Rivers, Bette Midler, Letterman, Carson, Kirstie Allsopp, Joe Lycett, Daniel Sloss, Aisling Bea, Stewart Francis, Amy Schumer, Sarah Silverman, Sara Pascoe, Geoff Norcott, Sean Lock, Hannibal Buress, Sarah Tiana, Jeff Ross, Stephen Mangan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An actor and radio presenter as well as a touring comic, Justin Moorhouse is a supernaturally warm presence with the ability to make any audience sit up and beg. We go into detail on his story-boarding and structuring techniques, and explore the responsibilities of a comedian at the height of his powers.If you're in and around Edinburgh, you can find details for Justin's show, Destiny Calling, here. Also, come and see ComComPod Live, and Stu's solo show, An Hour.Support the podcast by hitting "donate" at comedianscomedian.comPhoenix Nights, Peter Kay, Alfie Joey, Jason Manford, John Bishop, Ross Noble, Johnny Vegas, Paul Sinha, Jo Brand, Mick Ferry, Tommy Tiernan, Destiny Calling, James, Sean Percival, Alun Cochrane, Chortle, Steve Bennett, Rob Rouse, Louis CK, Bill Burr Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Showman, crooner and superb standup Charlie is the embodiment of an all-rounder, as well as one of the warmest performers on the UK circuit. Live at Latitude after a good old-fashioned cattle auction, he lays bare his attitude to stand-up, opens his heart about the over-use of his killer twenty, and comes clean about a sticky incident with a pint of lager...Come and see ComComPod live in Edinburgh. Click for tickets and details of Charlie's show, and see my free solo show here. Support the podcast by donating at www.comedianscomedian.com.Jack Dee, Andy Parsons, Vic and Bob, Dominic Holland, Harry Hill, Big Value, Ha Bloody Ha, Andre Agassi, Let's Dance, Comic Relief, Cotton Eye Joe, Parsons and Naylor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Perhaps the nearest the USA has to a true "comedian's comedian", Andy Kindler has been railing at audiences (and his own supposed lack of performance ability) for nearly 30 years. A regular at the "Just For Laughs" Comedy Festival in Montreal, where he annually gives his scathing "State of the Industry Address", Andy occupies a unique and hilarious position as the industry's conscience.  We discuss identifying and overcoming the many formulae of comedy detailed in his "Hack's Handbook", why he's mad at Jerry Seinfeld; as well as exploring the lingering fear of abandonment that drives a comic to be "always on"...Support the podcast by pressing "donate" at www.comedianscomedian.com, and see the show live at Edinburgh 2015.  NY Times, Zach Galifianakis, Steven Wright, Mitch Hedberg, Leno, Letterman, James Adomian, Richard Gere, Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, Robin Williams, Brian Posehn, Billy Crystal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A strong contender for Stu's favourite comic of all time, Patton Oswalt is a behemoth of invention, imagination and creativity. Live from Montreal, at which he won "Stand-up Comedian of the Year", we discuss what lifts a comic above being "funny but who gives a fuck?"  We also discuss issues of richness, legacy and whether the road gigs are worth it after all; but will Stu manage not to swoon like an Edwardian lady?Support the podcast by pressing "donate" at www.comedianscomedian.com, and see the show live at Edinburgh 2015.Hammersmith Apollo, Kyle Kinane, Morgan Murphy, Alan Moore, Silver Screen Fiend, Louis CK, Dave Chappelle, Tony Woods, 11/22/63, Star Wars, George Lucas, James Joyce, The Beatles, Rob Schneider, Harland Williams, King of Queens, Ratatouille, Bill Hicks, Down Periscope, Rip Torn, VEEP Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ready for some in-depth comedy theory?  Brainiac standup and one half of The Champs podcast, Moshe Kasher talks us through an exploded diagram of his approach to the art and craft of comedy. As well as detailing an analysis of his superb crowd-work, we get an inside view on the importance of "intrigue" in comedy and whether or not one can conjure it; not to mention the important difference between "riffingtons" and "rantingtons"... Support the podcast by pressing "donate" at www.comedianscomedian.com, and see the show live at Edinburgh 2015.Louis CK, Bill Burr, Eddie Izzard, Zach Galifianakis, Seinfeld, Steven Wright, Robert Schimmel, Patrice O'Neal, Todd Barry, The Champs, Patton Oswalt, Malcolm X, L. Ron Hubbard, Jay Z, Zoolander, Ben Stiller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the "Just For Laughs" Comedy Festival in Montreal, Jen Kirkman breaks down the elements of her personality that create such a thrilling dynamic in her stage and screen performance.  Relentlessly analytical of her emotions, she's very candid about her self-criticism, the crisis of creating a comedy special about her marriage whilst knowing deep down she wanted that union to end, and how she connects so deeply with her audience...Support the podcast by pressing "donate" at www.comedianscomedian.com, and see the show live at Edinburgh.Just For Laughs, Dave Chappelle, I Seem Fun, Kurt Metzger, Netflix, I'm Gonna Die Alone, Chelsea Handler, Marc Maron, Bll Burr, Hail To The Freaks, Melbourne Comedy Festival, Steve Bennett, Chortle, Alan Cumming, Joan Rivers, Louis CK, Letterman, Howard Stern,Mr. Show, Eddie Pepitone, Maria Bamford Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Anarchist Cook" George brings his ludicrous visual comedy to the Edinburgh Fringe for the first time this summer.  George bakes his own bread, builds his own props, and survives his hotel-based weekends in a hilariously inventive fashion which Stu has taken to heart...  We talk about comedy, cuisine and creativity, as well as George's expectations of his first ever Edinburgh run.Comment on this episode and others, and support the podcast at www.comedianscomedian.comThe Hotel Survivor, Robin Ince, Will Smith, Archaos, MAD Symposium, Edinburgh Fringe, Up The Creek, Cooking in Prison, Youth Hostelling with Chris Eubank, Monkey Tennis Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Podcast pioneer, arch-noodler, jingle-master and YouTube cosmonaut, Adam Buxton invented loads of your favourite stuff before it was famous. We talk about the creative urge; exploiting one's family for material; and how to cope with criticism. We also explore the dynamic between Adam and long-term collaborator Joe Cornish. But which one is the best? It's Adam.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Daliso Chaponda Malawi's only professional comic? Methodical to a fault and gleefully non-improvisational, Daliso talks us through the crafting of his unbreakable jokes. A truly global act, he explains what it's like to be a headliner on one continent and a road act on another... Support the podcast at www.comedianscomedian.comJust For Laughs, Eddie Murphy, The Colbert Report, Malawi, Politics, Roger Ebert Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Second-ever winner of the voted-for-only-by-comics "Comedians Comedian" award (no relation), Gavin Webster is one of the most frequently requested guests on this podcast. A true circuit stalwart with a phenomenal gag-rate and an ability to play any room, he talks about his inspiration in music hall comedy and punk rock, his deliberately provocative titles, and his frustration with "posh people with pens"...Support the podcast at http://comedianscomedian.com/Remember to use the discount code FAFF for 25% off tickets to the live Adam Buxton interview on July 7th. Stewart Lee, Paul Foot, Jo Brand, Ross Noble, Chortle, Edinburgh, Fringe, Bill Hicks, Harry Hill, The Comedy Store, Music Hall, Alan Davies, Bob Mills Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Creator and host of his own TV show "Legally Brown", Nazeem Hussain aces it in sketch, stand-up and on the road. Unusually for a comic he's also an upstanding pillar of his community! As well as winning the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Best Newcomer, he is also the recipient of awards for leadership in diversity, and is the patron of a refugee charity. We talk about how his faith feeds into his work, being "a tough-talking idiot", and the reality of being genuinely targeted by shadowy government organisations...Support the podcast at www.comedianscomedian.comUse discount code FAFF at www.sohotheatre.com for 25% off tickets to the live Adam Buxton interview on 7th July!(Additional Music: Kevin MacLeod - Ghost Dance / creativecommons.org)Sketch, Tour, Melbourne Comedy Festival Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host of Mock The Week for 14 series, as well as a superlatively talented touring comic, Dara Ó Briain is uniquely placed to reveal the secrets of mainstream success. In this unmissable episode he goes into detail on the structure of his tour shows and gives us his manual for crowd work. We also explore his fusion of technique and natural comic ability, and hear his own take on how he broke away from the pack... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As well as co-hosting The Football's On show on BT and the Tuesday Club podcast, Ian Stone is an unbreakable club comic with a resume that includes TV panel games, regularly headlining the Comedy Store and performing to British troops in Afghanistan. He charts the development of his writing skills, and explores the revelation he had in deciding to "piss about" on stage. We also cover only writing stuff that you care about, and using moaning as a creative force...Use discount code FAFF atwww.sohotheatre.com for 25% off tickets for Adam Buxton on 7th July.Please support the podcast by donating at www.comedianscomedian.comMock The Week, Festival, Eddie Izzard, Podcasting, George Carlin, Standup, Michael McIntyre, Edinburgh, Fringe, Jenny Eclair, Rich Hall, Ian Stone, The Comedy Store, Dylan Moran, BT Sport, The Football's On, Jerry Sadowitz, David Baddiel, Omid Djalili, Ian Cognito, Milton Jones, Dave Schneider Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of Australia's hottest comic properties, Wil Anderson is utterly charming as he analyses his career and the length of time it took him to find his voice. A self-confessed "dag", he outlines the relationship between structuring and finessing his shows, shares with us comedy's Prime Directive, and fails to understand the term "lush"...Find Wil online at www.wilanderson.com.auUse discount code FAFF at www.sohotheatre.com for 25% off tickets for Adam Buxton on 7th July.Support the podcast at by donating at www.comedianscomedian.com. Stewart Lee, Daniel Kitson, Festival Comedian, Festival, Louis CK, Podcasting, Bill Burr, George Carlin, Standup, Edinburgh, Fringe, Bill Hicks, Wil Anderson, Glenn Wool, Tiffany Stevenson, Dame Edna, TOFOP, Todd Barry, Lindsay Webb, Rich Hall, Ed Byrne, Radiohead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of those acts floating around at the very top of the circuit, completely ready to outgrow it, Zoe Lyons is an expert at wringing every drop of funny out of a subject. We talk about the tough school environment that forged her, as well as the legacy of resilience it invoked, and ask why she still feels like an impostor.Support the podcast by donating via Paypal at www.comedianscomedian.comTouring Comedian, Festival Comedian, Radio 4, Jo Brand, Standup, Russell Kane, Edinburgh, Fringe, Tallinn Comedy Festival, Zoe Lyons, James Acaster, Ben Elton, Robin Williams, The Stand, Jo Caulfield, Kerry Godliman, The John Bishop Show, John Bishop, Russ Peers, Katherine Ryan, Bent Double Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With a staggering sixteen year back-catalogue of weekly topical songs under his belt, musical comedian Mitch Benn is a firm fixture of "The Now Show" on Radio 4. We talk about circuit snobbery regarding "the cheating stick", the joy of creating music as well as comedy, and the perils of being so good at what you do that people have a hard time imagining you as anything else...Support the podcast by donating via Paypal at www.comedianscomedian.comMock The Week, Daniel Kitson, Festival, Radio 4, Eddie Izzard, Alternative Comedy Experience, Charlie Brooker, Ross Noble, Mark Thomas, Edinburgh, Fringe, Parody, Comedy Music, Mitch Benn, The Now Show, Spinal Tap, Harry Shearer, Nick Wilty, Steve Punt, Hugh Dennis, Imran Yusuf, Tallinn Comedy Festival, Marcus Brigstocke, Bill Hicks, Harry Hill, Shlomo, The Beatles, John Maloney, Jess Robinson, Jon Holmes, Jay Foreman, Jenny Eclair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedy's marathon man Mark Watson is known for his feats of intellectual and performative endurance, and also for his phenomenal comic story-telling. We get our teeth into the anxieties he exposes in his more recent material, hear first-hand the effects of being the butt of a Stewart Lee routine, as well as learning what happens when a shoe falls...Support the podcast at www.comedianscomedian.comLive At The Apollo, David O'Doherty, Stewart Lee, Daniel Kitson, Festival Comedian, Festival, Radio 4, Paul Foot, Tim Key, Mark Watson, Michael McIntyre, Chortle, Frankie Boyle, Edinburgh, Fringe, Chris Addison, Dara O'Briain, Russell Howard, Stephen Fry, Jason Manford, Super Furry Animals, Sam Simmons, Tim Minchin, Rhod Gilbert Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The complex relationship between a ventriloquist and her puppets is brought to life in mind-expanding detail in this live episode, as comedian, clown and filmmaker Nina Conti lays her creative process bare! Startlingly innovative and imaginative, Nina traces her development via mentor Ken Campbell (and criticism from Daniel Kitson), and why she feels she's "more Monkey than Nina"...Support the podcast at www.comedianscomedian.comLive At The Apollo, Touring Comedian, Nina Conti, Jeff Dunham, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Family Tree, Improv, Ventriloquism, Dr Brown, Phil Burgers, Her Master's Voice, Gaulier, Ken Campbell, Clowning Around Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teenbait rap comics The Midnight Beast have generated tens of millions of YouTube hits and two TV series by spoofing boybands, whilst secretly being basically a real one. They combine exceptional talent in audio/video production with a zest for melodic dick-jokes you'll want to play again and again. We talk viral strategy, production values, the evolution of their act in the run-up to their new Comedy Central show, and how to be your own cigar-chomping exec...See Nina Conti on ComComPod live at Soho Theatre on 5th May - quote FAFF at www.sohotheatre.com for 25% off.Support the podcast at www.comedianscomedian.com.The Mighty Boosh, YouTube, Channel 4, The Midnight Beast, E4, Comedy Central, Parody, Comedy Music, Music Videos, Hadouken!, Joe Lycett, Family Guy, South Park, The Office, Ke$ha Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A startlingly creative character comic, Nick Mohammed produces utterly silly work with a rigorous technical backbone. We talk about his most enduring creation Mr Swallow, and how he has cultivated that act from a casual sketch to a rollerskating operatic Dracula. We also discuss his role in the new Ridley Scott film "The Martian"...Support the podcast at www.comedianscomedian.comBuy tickets online with code FAFF for upcoming live shows at www.sohotheatre.com. Nina Conti on 5th May!Uncle, Musical, Sketch, Festival Comedian, Standup, Footlights, The Thick of It, Stefan Golaszewski, Chortle, Edinburgh, Fringe, Nick Mohammed, Julia Davis, Morning Has Broken, Matt Damon, Ridley Scott, Channel 4, Marc Wootton, Derren Brown, Dan Tetsell, Mr Swallow, Dracula The Musical Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Burning with narrative intensity, Irish-American Des Bishop learnt to perform standup in Gaelic and now Mandarin, such is his commitment to following through on an idea. He gives us a compelling insight into how he morphed from a circuit headliner to a voracious documentarian, and rages at the reviewer who attacked his integrity.Sponsor the podcast at www.comedianscomedian.comDaniel Kitson, Eddie Izzard, Russell Kane, Chortle, Des Bishop, Jason Byrne, RTE, Steve Bennett, The Guardian, Made in China, Edinburgh, Fringe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Russell Peters stole my shit!" So alleges dynamic and outspoken comic Gina Yashere, who sold up and left the UK to make it in the United States, becoming the only Brit ever to feature on "Def Jam". She pulls no punches in this compelling interview, venting her frustration at the producers of Mock The Week and Last Comic Standing, as well as condemning the TV industry's apparent preference for "non-threatening" black acts.Sponsor the podcast at comedianscomedian.comMock The Week, Stewart Lee, Standup, Michael McIntyre, Greg Proops, Gina Yashere, Jay Leno, Def Comedy Jam, Def Jam, Last Comic Standing, Tony Law, The Comedy Store, Ros Jeep, Chortle, Jocelyn Jee Esien, Frankie Boyle, Chris Rock, Kevin Hart, Damon Wayans, MOBOs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second part of this conversation, we look in detail at John's principles for directing standup. Not so much a list of rules as a whole approach to helping a comic achieve their own goals, and not those of the director... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Director or script-editor of over sixty other acts including Michael McIntyre, Eddie Izzard and Reginald D Hunter, John Gordillo is a superb comedian in his own right. The antithesis of a one-liner act, we discuss his dedication to “following the idea”, and seeking out comedy that is truly situational rather than going for the gags. Just don't call him “The Professor”... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The second half of this conversation with the warrior poet/comic/divvy focuses on Tim's relationship with comedians Alex Horne and Mark Watson, and how his position as their respective foils gave him the freedom to experiment...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A lager-sodden "not deliberately bad" poet, Tim Key is responsible for some of the most startlingly theatrical fringe comedy of the last ten years.From his outrageous origin as a college-troupe cuckoo, to his frustrations at the culling of his sketch group "Cowards"; through fringe stardom to his big screen success alongside Alan Partridge, we trace Tim's emergence as one of the most compelling voices of contemporary British comedy.BBC3, How To, Poetry, Festival Comedian, Radio 4, Philippe Gaulier, Standup, Tim Key, Alex Horne, Mark Watson, Steve Coogan, Alan Partridge, Alpha Papa, Cowards, Footlights, David Baddiel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A smart cookie based in New York, Liz Miele combines punchline density with social media acumen. She runs, she dates, she cries, she talks about it all. But is she actually as "Emotionally Exhausting" as her show suggests?Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brendon Burns returns to the show, live at Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival, to clear up some matters of condescension, technique and the petulance of his youth. In addition to discussing his new internet-based strategy, tour and podcast, we also analyse the routine he's most proud of, and how he grew it over the course of years...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lou Sanders is off the rails. Her deliciously shameless stage persona is backed up by punchy writing, peppered with surreal flavours. From gurus to glitter, we discuss the technique behind her tackle...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Occult comedian Andrew O'Neill describes jokes as "spells to make people laugh". We talk about the differences between magick and faith, getting information about the world through standup, nailing your really weird colours to the mast, and trying to be your own favourite comedian... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cult-runaway Harley Breen is a man mountain with a barnstorming club and festival act. Underneath his loudmouth lumbersexual persona is a deeply principled single father with a reflective nature and a fascinating story to tell... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

South Africa-born Urzila Carlson is now one of New Zealand's favourite acts, winning “Best Female Comic” there an astonishing five years running. Irrepressibly cheerful, she combines her natural talent with an innate empathy for her audience, and sheer hard work. We talk about respecting one's crowd, structuring an hour, and why Stu can't make her cry...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A wilfully preposterous boozehound in a pashmina, Thom Tuck is a superbly theatrical stand-up, one third of fringe-conquering sketch outfit The Penny Dreadfuls, and co-ringmaster of The Alternative Comedy Memorial Society. We delve into the challenges of developing a festival-friendly solo act for the live circuit, and discuss whether his commitment to character is ever a cage. He also reveals a surprising anger...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Star of the brain-smashingly surreal sketch show "Anna and Katy", and Daisy in "Not Going Out", Katy Wix is an actress with an exceptional comic mind. We talk about the roots of creativity, the fear of daydreaming, and her new book, "The Oberon Book Of Comic Monologues For Women". Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alfie Brown is variously known as the future of British comedy, the enfant terrible of the comedy circuit, and/or a jumped-up posh kid rebelling against anything that'll have him. Frustratingly, he's almost certainly the former, as he refines his act to include less maddening naivety and more genuinely breath-taking comic verve. Can he convince you he's not just some West London it-boy wanker? I think he can...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Live from the Phoenix in Oxford Circus, Stuart, Carl and Chris get gently inebriated while hosting a saucy three-way mash-up of their respective podcasts! Happy Christmas one and all!To donate to MIND mental health charity: Text SUPPORT to 70660 to give £3 Text GIVE to 82772 to give £5 and visit www.carlandchrispodcast.com for more from those two divs.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mickey "D" Dwyer is an outrageously charismatic comic, with an almost mutant ability to win over the toughest room, from the UK to his native Australia and back. Retaining the dynamism, skills and stories from his previous life as a hardcore festival headcase, he's now a clean-living, marathon-running family man - but does he ever miss the bad old days?Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fiercely intelligent political and socio-political comic, friend of the show and self-confessed “great laugh”, Nish Kumar is at the height of his powers. We discuss the self and the presentational self, his family, tremendous ego and the unquenchable analytical thirst that powers his comedy and his life. But is he really only able to face his problems in front of strangers? Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's episode 100 of the podcast and Stu's been saving this one up! If you've donated in the last few months you'll have heard this one as a sneaky pre-release but here it is for the rest of us... Phil Kay is a force of nature. Not a metaphorical one; an actual force of nature. “The guy that speaks really fast until it goes wrong” waxes sagacious about staying in the bit that works, no longer being appropriate to the bullets, and most importantly of all believing in belief. Phil's autobiography “The Wholly Viable” is available online now and you'd be an idiot to miss it.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luisa Omielan has established herself as a comic force to be reckoned with, by-passing the usual club/progression route, and cultivating an audience all her own. We explore the dynamic between her excellent stand-up and the theatrical elements that lift it to another level, and she talks candidly about her relationships with her family, and with the circuit that she'd still love to feel more a part of.BBC3, Beyonce, What Would Beyonce Do?, AmIRightLadies?, Soho Theatre, Leicester Square Theatre, The Exhibit, Salford University, Madonna, Edfringe, Underbelly, Suzi Ruffell, Off the Kerb, Top Secret Comedy Club, Gospel, Viva Forever, Jongleurs, XS Malarkey, Spanx. Criminal Minds, Live At The Apollo, Big Brother, Debi Allen, Caroline Rhea, Whoopi Goldberg, Montreal Comedy Festival Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of this conversation with the free-wheeling comedy craftsman, Ross Noble argues that ideas with unusual logic are often mistaken for "surreal" comedy, and explains his process of un-honing ideas by starting with something neat and then taking it to bits live on stage...Mock The Week, Writing Jokes, Live At The Apollo, Tour, Exclusive, Australia, Improv, Russell Brand, Bill Bailey, Boothy Graffoe, Stewart Lee, Harry Hill, Billy Connolly, Joe Wilkinson, Bill Hicks, Lenny Bruce, Sean Hughes, Rob Newman, Peter Kay, Mary Whitehouse Experience, Glee Club, John Cooper Clarke, Sean Lock, Fred Macauley, Jo Brand, Lee Evans, Dave Gorman, Jasper Carrot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ross Noble makes apparently casual improvisation into an art form, breathing life into nonsense for hours at a time and provoking gales of laughter. In the first part of this conversation we talk about how he cultivated his devoted live following, how hard it is to define what's basically him "dicking about", and the benefits of making TV warm-up work for you...Mock The Week, Writing Jokes, Live At The Apollo, Tour, Exclusive, Australia, Improv, Russell Brand, Bill Bailey, Boothy Graffoe, Stewart Lee, Harry Hill, Billy Connolly, Joe Wilkinson, Bill Hicks, Lenny Bruce, Sean Hughes, Rob Newman, Peter Kay, Mary Whitehouse Experience, Glee Club, John Cooper Clarke, Sean Lock, Fred Macauley, Jo Brand, Lee Evans, Dave Gorman, Jasper Carrot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prince Abdi is a sublimely daft story-teller, whose material spills out of a life where he can't help saying "yes". We talk about his upbringing and his reluctant involvement in a gang, and he reveals how his experiences in ITV reality show "Show Me The Funny" temporarily set back his career...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Cross asked me to distribute this never-before-heard deleted track from his 2014 album "It's Not Funny", featuring H. Jon Benjamin as the voice of God. The track was intended as the finale of the album but never included, as he explains in Episode 96 of "The Comedian's Comedian Podcast" - available at www.comedianscomedian.com Purchase the original album at itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/david-cross/id15367333 Legal disclaimer: I, David Cross, (of this email address) of sound mind and body, do declare that this audio file, let's call it, "Clapping in the USA" is mine all mine. And I am happy to give it to Stuart to post on his podcast thing. Especially as I wilfully have no presence on Social Media. Yours in Christ, David Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second part of our conversation, standup and comic actor David Cross explores offence, outrage and sensitivity. We also talk about his work on Arrested Development and Mr Show, and dig into his process, his struggle to write jokes, and how to regard an audience as a living breathing thing...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders @comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The star of "Arrested Development", "Mr Show" and "The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret", David Cross is also a phenomenal stand-up, whose work howls at the stupidity and hypocrisy around him. In part one of this interview he talks about his earliest material and how he overcame the fear of bombing onstage, and speaks very frankly about the cycle of anger and depression that could grip him in his less creative moments...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders @comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bloody lovely Trygve is a superb physical improviser, and more of a "weird lanky white brittle idiot" than a clown. We dissect the hilarious savagery of his imaginary worlds, and talk about stealing ideas from yourself, spotting your habits, and why it's good to go and see bad shows...Dr Brown, Phil Burgers, Kraken, Squidboy, Barry Awards, Golden Gibbo Awards, FRED Awards, SOMPBDILSPIWCL, Le Flop, Cardboard Cabaret, Vikki Stone, The Classic, Auckland, Steen Raskopoulos, Red Bastard, Benjamin Crellin, Barnie Duncan, Calypso Nights, Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, Laurel And Hardy, Gaulier, Clowning, Carlo Jacucci, The Underbelly, Julien Cottereau, Imagine Toi, Monty Python, Kune's Kitchen, John Kearns, Liam Williams, Ben Target, The Boy With Tape On His Face, Kim Noble Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Although he's frequently referred to as a "philosophical" or "stoner" comic, Tom Stade is actually a Level Twenty Comedian. He waxes lyrical about striving for wisdom in his writing, rather than cleverness, and why he focuses on the internal not the external. We also talk about videotaping yourself to dissolve the delusion that an audio-recording of your act affords, acting like a star, and why Tom's a dangerous person to have on TV...Gary Delaney, Micky Flanagan, Stephen Fry, Craig Campbell, Stuart Goldsmith, JP Mass, John Hastings, Live At The Apollo, Doug Stanhope, Brendon Burns Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eleanor Tiernan makes tremendously articulate comedy, often out of morally murky ideas and subjects. She talks here about the comedy scene in her native Ireland, how to find the bits of your act that are genuinely “alive”, and how she escaped material she felt trapped by. We also go into depth on her experiences with therapy, how her artistic purpose helps her emotionally, and how we share the underlying fear of getting kicked out of the gang...Free Fringe, Laughter Lounge, Tommy Tiernan, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Poor School, The Oxford Drama School, Help The Frigid, So You Think You're Funny?, Mrs Brown's Boys, Chris Brown, Stewart Lee, Andrew Lawrence, Headwreckers, David McSavage, Phil Kay, Hunter Square, Reginald D Hunter, Up The Creek, Comedy Store, Dublin Fringe Festival, The National Therapy Project, Jason Byrne, Dara O'Briain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irrepressibly positive, and relentless in her pursuit of betterment, deliriously funny Josie Long is much more than a figurehead for “whimsy”. We talk here about how her humour has developed from Japanese frog gods to politics and back, and how to make sure you get taken on the expedition. She also covers getting trolled before it was cool, unsubscribing from abuse and being fucking zen...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Impro aficionado Steen Raskopoulos has mastered a style of audience interaction that lets his volunteers contribute to the show, rather than simply supplying a punchline. Nominated for Edinburgh Best Newcomer moments after this interview, he talks here about his training, the origins of his characters, and how he's ended up so aggravatingly well-adjusted...Audience Participation, Improv, Sketch, Edinburgh Best Newcomer Nomination 2014, Paul Byrne, The Delusionist, This Is Littleton, Slideshow, TV, Adam Riches, Lynsey Hanley, Second City, Axis Of Awesome, Jordan Raskopoulos The Super Rasko Bros., Eric Bana, Veronica Milsom, Clarke MacFarlane, Mario, Queen Of The Circus, Alastair Cook, Setlist Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The leading voice of feminism in UK comedy, devastatingly funny Bridget Christie is adept at unearthing humour in difficult or important topics. She talks here about her comic origins in surrealism, and reveals beneath her insecurities the wilfulness that kept her going in the face of critical bewilderment. We Love Comedy, Stewart Lee, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Fosters Comedy Award, A Bic For Her, An Ungrateful Woman, David Trent, Hannibal Buress, Cheese Roll, Charles II, Charles II The Second, Daily Mail, Housewife Surrealist, War Donkey, A Ant, The Stand, ACMS, Alternative Comedy Memorial Society, The Alexander, Clapham, The Comedy Stop, The Comedy Store, Sam Simmons, Alison Vernon-Smith, Bridget Christie Minds The Gap, Radio 4, Kate Smurthwaite, Danielle Ward, Soho Theatre, Eddie Izzard, Celebrity Squares, Warwick Davies Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From "Porky the Poet" to "Never Mind The Buzzcocks" to his own stand-up tours, Phill Jupitus is responsible for a prodigious comic output. We discuss his origins as a performer, his use of his family in his material, and the usefulness of unresolved anger...Josie Long, Bridget Christie, Sara Pascoe, Deborah Francis-White, Nadia Kamil, ACMS, Alternative Comedy Memorial Society, Malcolm Hardee, Marcus Brigstocke, World's Most Dangerous Roads, John Mann, Alistair McGowan, Jeremy Hardy, Comedy Store, Mark Thomas, Kevin Day, Andre Vincent, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Free Fringe, Porky The Poet, Poems Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Simmons is not a “surreal” comic, despite his propensity to turn into a horse whilst windsurfing.  He's responsible for some of the funniest, most imaginative comedy in the world, and has an unshakeable faith in his material.  He talks here about the anger he feels when mainstream audiences refuse to come along for the ride, how he translates rage into comedy, and the advantages of making mistakes.Paul Foot, Mike Wilmot, Noel Fielding, Graeme Garden, Bob Slayer, Set List, James Acaster, Hannibal Burress, Dave Quirk, The Roadshow, Adelaide, Edinburgh Fringe, The Goodies, Dangermouse, Fawlty Towers, Conan, Problems, Animal Planet, The Trip Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A quick hello and a couple of recommendations for the Edinburgh Fringe 2014 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

>John Hastings has the soul of an alt comic, hiding between the power-chords of a bullet-headed club-jockey.  He describes in detail how the Canadian circuit differs to the UK, and we talk about the two different types of bombing, his unusual writing technique, and how it feels to do well in a tough room but regret the choices you made...Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Canada, The Pleasance Cellar, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Mock The Week, Have I Got News For You, Comedy Store, Imran Yusuf, Josh Widdicombe, Eminem, Patton Oswalt, Montreal, Jongleurs, Michael McIntyre, Tony Law, Nick Helm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A master of off-the-wall wordplay, Noel James is disarmingly honest about his struggles with comedy and real life. We analyse his use of metaphor and analogy as well as delving into his psychology, what it's like to commit one's life to comedy, and the public craving for “one voice of truth”.Bangor University, Taunton, One Liners, Gavin Webster, New Zealand, Laurel And Hardy, Monty Python, James Joyce, Dylan Thomas, Spike Milligan, British Telecom, Mark Thomas, Kevin Day, Maria Callas, Graham Norton, Frankie Howerd, Ken Dodd, Time Out, Tunnel Club, Malcolm Hardee, Game Of Thrones, Paul Foot, Phil Kay, Chortle, Daniel Dennett, Colin Wilson, The Outsider, Bill Hicks, Joe Rowntree, SNL, Saturday Night Live, Ben Elton, Arthur Smith, Tim Vine, Glee Club, Selling Out, Eric Sykes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A self-confessed “sad, bearded white dude”, Kyle Kinane has more empathy than the next road warrior, and more bite than the next peddler of whimsy.  He talks here about eschewing personality in favour of better jokes; cultivating talent rather than hustle; and how his failure at a big festival led him to discover a more worthwhile goal than wordplay.Extra content from this interview available free at www.comedianscomedian.com/kyleSoho Theatre, Eddie Pepitone, Kurt Braunohler, Mitch Hedburg, The Johnny Carson Show, Mr Show, The Kids In The Hall, Fin Taylor, Paul W. Valentine, Charles Bukowski, Death Of The Party, Whiskey Icarus, Dave Attell, Aspen Comedy Festival Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nick Doody is a textbook "unsung hero" of comedy: fiercely analytical, and with an approach to jokes that is both cerebral and instinctive.  He talks here in fascinating detail about elements of his writing process: divergent thinking, freeing oneself from the logic of a situation, and manufacturing outrage...Jim Jefferies, The Now Show, Radio 4, Ben Moore, Wayne Shepherd, The Comedy Cellar, Arnold Brown, Stephen Fry, Bill Hicks, Jack Dee, Stephen Wright, Emo Phillips, Nick Revel, Ben And Arn, Paul Rogan, Stewart Lee, Andy Zaltzman, Matt Kirshen, John Gordillo, Simon Evans, Old Rope, Louis CK, Carey Marx, Ed Byrne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aamer Rahman was on the verge of giving up his career in overtly-political comedy when his youtube standup clip on “reverse racism” went life-changingly viral.  We talk about anger, activism, whether issues-based comedy can lead to political change, and the problem with “Game of Thrones”...Fear Of A Brown Planet, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Reverse Racism, Roar, Nazeem Hussain, Nabil Abdul Rashid, Twitter, YouTube, Bloc Party, Alanis Morissette, Ironic, Game Of Thrones, Breivik, Australia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The grand high sultan of Bullshit-istan, Andy Zaltzman is one half of the incredible Bugle Podcast, and combines densely-written satirical nonsense with improvised flights of fancy. He goes into detail on how The Bugle is made, how he copes with his partner's stratospheric success, and answers the ultimate question: "what is bullshit?"The Bugle, John Oliver, Karen Taylor, Danny Bhoy, Spencer Brown, Honourable Men Of Art, Daniel Kitson, David O'Doherty, Ross Noble, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Noel Fielding, The Daily Show, Mark Thomas, Rob Newman, Michael McIntyre, Richard Herring, Stewart Lee, Alun Cochrane, Ricky Gervais, Political Animal, The Department, Radio 4, Greg Proops, Sara Pascoe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New York-based former cabaret comic Adrienne Truscott is an articulate, passionate and hilarious new voice in stand-up. Her "Asking For It" show won the panel prize at the Edinburgh Fringe for its abruptness, honesty and scathing wit. We discuss the vulnerability of performing naked, the responsibilities of freedom of speech, and how to cultivate silliness from fury...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders @comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An improvisational powerhouse, Jarred Christmas finds the time to pepper his irrepressible joie de vivre with damn fine jokes. He spills the beans here about his current state of flux between the attraction of live work and the fresh challenges of TV writing. We also cover the downfalls of trying to play to the Edinburgh critics, Jarred's own “three Cs” of comedy, and how to cheat your way to success in a live studio sitcom..Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders @comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Although still new, Luke Heggie is a breath of dry, dusty air to a circuit stuffed with comic book-readers and “star-fuckers”. A blue-collar Aussie bloke who won RAW on his fourth gig and then gave AGT a shot, he hilariously annihilates the idiots that cross his path, then goes back to his kids and his building site...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders @comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Autobiographical and observational comedian, blogger and feminist, Michele A'Court speaks passionately about authenticity, insecurity and the right to challenge. We discuss her refusal to apologise, the disappearance from TV of older female performers, and two very different sides of her theory that you have to follow what's making the noise in your head, or the rest of the writing won't come...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders @comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A softly-spoken, foppish figure who luxuriates in language, Tom Wrigglesworth is equally at home spinning a yarn or smashing up a weekend club. He talks here about authenticity in his work, and the right of the teller to alter the empirical truth of a story, as well as outlining in detail his favourite trick for dealing with interruptions...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders @comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laidback observationalist Ben Hurley made a foray to the UK some years ago, and returned to his native New Zealand to become a TV hero. We get stuck into the relationship between British and NZ comedy, and the pros and cons of each scene. We also cover natural talent, making laziness work for you, and whether observations hit harder when performed totally clean, or when injected with personality...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carey Marx is a silver-tongued charmer who delights in navigating boundaries of logic, language and taste. With a unique take on verbal dexterity and misdirection, informed in part by his previous career as a magician, he talks at the NZICF about what makes comedy offensive, which words he won't stop using, and even reveals some of his self-generated writing exercises...*Contains language that some people may find offensive*Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Claudia O'Doherty is a genuine comedy pioneer, who uses high concepts and holograms in order to have fun behaving like a dickhead. We talk about the inspiration behind topics like ocean research or soil erosion, and how she manages to make such esoteria properly funny, as well as why both clowns and standups are jerks.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To call Max and Ivan a comedy double-act with a narrative doesn't really do justice to this pair of rubber-faced, multi-voiced storytellers, who have a penchant for sneaking actual theatre into their work. They've only recently quit their day-jobs, but with a run of international festival appearances and award nominations under their belt, it seems to be working out – you could literally just slap them. Here, the boys outline their writing and rehearsal process, who gets final say over the editing, and which one of them has a google alert for their own reviews... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does "whimsy" have to mean fairy lights and bunting, or is it just owning a bag? David O'Doherty is a multi-award winning comic and musical noodler, with a real emotional depth at the core of his seemingly fanciful material. We discuss why he had a breakdown and how he recovered, the significance of sitting on the far left on a panel show, and what you should never ever do on a bicycle... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A recipe for a happy life as a comic? Kerry Godliman is a superb observationalist, and a tremendous comic actor. She shares her philosophy on writing, gigging and how to achieve a positive work-life balance, as well as delving into why she's never been afraid to scratch a living. We also discuss positive discrimination, covens of rage, and why wahwah is way better than flimflam... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alongside his famously prodigious output of punnery, Tim Vine is a wonderfully imaginative comedy creator. As well as talking us through his writing techniques, he describes how he structures an hour-long barrage of punchlines, and gives us unprecedented access to the the notorious “Pen Behind The Ear”. But will he ever be one of the cool kids? Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ed Byrne is a charming, argumentative sod - with a fantastically natural comic ability. We discuss whether it's funnier to take time finding the truth of a subject, or to switch your opinions to find the must comically useful stance; and why a group of comedians is known as a “bitch”. We also glimpse how he side-steps a physical writing process by simply losing an argument and then dwelling on it for far too long... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sean Hughes is a thoughtful, reflective performer, with a passion for self-expressive and profound comedy. A pioneer of the themed, narrative standup show, after the 90s he quit the fishbowl of comedy celebrity to become a novelist, poet and actor. We discuss his feelings on “outliving” his life experience; the amazing drug of comedy; and the challenges of attracting an audience other than the one you were aiming for... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Punchline virtuoso Gary Delaney knows one-liners inside and out, and in this crackling live episode treats us to a comprehensive technical analysis of his art.Taking grammar, rhythm, emphasis and narrative into account, he unpacks specific examples of his gags in forensic detail. Gary fiercely defends the value of hard work over talent, and also finds time to cry hacky, spunky tears...One Liners, Simon Munnery, Harry Hill, Stewart Lee, Stephen Wright, Tim Vine, Jongleurs, Tony Law, Martin Lewis, MoneySavingExpert.com, Buccaneer Club, Kate Copstick, Dan Evans, Milton Jones, Old Rope, Marcus Brigstocke, Mitch Hedburg, Stephen Fry, TalkSport, Katherine Ryan, Frankie Boyle, Jimmy Carr, Max Miller, Slaughterhouse, Jethro, Flavor Flav, Public Enemy, Douglas Rushkoff, Newsjack, Bernard Manning, Jim Davidson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will Franken is a one-man sketch explosion who creates multi-layered and mind-bending comedy with the exuberance of a bedroom DJ. From writing a new 90 minute show monthly to be performed only once, to putting a kid in a headlock, he rails against an industry that expects comedians to be normal...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nick Helm grunts and sweats his way through a hilarious hurricane of jokes, songs, poetry and swearing, all the while undergoing a total emotional breakdown on stage. We encounter the soft-spoken and articulate theatre-maker behind the heavy metal mask, exploring how he structures his epic shows, the origin of his bombast, and his feelings on his starring role in BBC3's “Uncle”.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tony Law's regeneration from acquired-taste surrealist to must-see force of nature has been borne of depression and crippling debt. He exists now in a dynamic between ecstatic madness and total discipline, resulting in an unstoppable comic energy. In this more-than-usually revealing interview, we find out how Tony crafts his apparently uncraftable material, the unique influence his wife brings to bear on his writing, and why he thinks Stu is a bit of a prick...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sidetracked by youthful addictions, and making up for it with an incredibly intense approach, Marcus Brigstocke produces brilliant political comedy underpinned by passion and rigorous research. Find out what it's like to storm a commercial club with stuff that you no longer believe in, why The Telegraph regard Marcus as a traitor, and the one thing about comedy that breaks his heart... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rambling man Norman Lovett is the comedy equivalent of a tai chi master, using subtlety and gentleness to often devastating comic effect. In this episode Norman is convinced to put aside his distrust of analysing comedy, at least some of the time, and we learn about the acts that inspired him, his audition for Red Dwarf, and the anger simmering beneath the whimsy...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bo Burnham is a frighteningly talented youtube-wielding wunderkind, with a gag-filled show that defies you to write him off as precocious. We explore the inherent amorality of comedy, the responsibilities of the offensive comic and the consequences of attracting a demographic that isn't necessarily the one you were aiming for... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Susan Calman is fierce and fiercely funny, unleashing her personal demons to devastating comic effect in her work and here in conversation. As well as exploring how not to approach the Edinburgh fringe, we also uncover how Susan translates her anger into comedy, the pressure she feels to be a spokesperson for gay people, and why she feels she doesn't deserve a glass... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

According to his mother, Rob Delaney is “a monster who does good things”. We talk about the differences between his standup persona and his voice on Twitter, as well as detailing the specific techniques he used to gather his 1,000,000+ followers. We also explore the dynamic between his creativity and his sometimes major depression, and investigate which elements of comedy still feel outside of his reach...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Millican returns for a live sequel, in which we go into detail on how she copes with her ever-increasing fame, and being regarded as one of the "100 most powerful women in Britain". As well as discussing her views on feminism, and how she keeps challenging herself when playing to an audience who love her, she also explains how to stay grounded at Edinburgh, and why she feels "ballsy."Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Effortlessly charming observationalist Jason Manford is arguably comedy's Mr Accessibility. With a touring schedule designed to cover the entire country, we investigate the motives and consequences of his workaholic approach to the craft. As well as touching on the downsides of his fame, this candid interview explores Jason's struggle to challenge himself whilst giving his audience what they want. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Consistently better-informed than the motor-mouthed “funny fucker” he appears, Andrew Maxwell explains how he turns his opinions into comedy without the use of a writing desk. What he does instead might surprise you, as we cover the downsides of charm, the secret of his success at the Edinburgh Fringe, and a view on careerism that will have you playing back this episode after a tough gig.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the best joke-smiths in the world, Milton Jones is a consistently funny powerhouse of verbal cartoons, wordplay and clowning. We explore his persona, his process, and the advantages of making something really bad rather than making it better. He also paints a picture of the community of one-liner specialists, describes his specific approach to “Mock The Week”, and explains how to get everyone's attention on sports day... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Wembley sell-out star to complex comic philosopher, David Baddiel returned to this year's Edinburgh Fringe with a stand-up lecture about fame. We discuss his rigorous self-analysis and how appealing he finds the transformative effective of walking onstage. We also delve into how David's obsession with the truth defines him, and was partly responsible for the end of one of his double-acts...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For nearly twenty years, Al Murray has been at the forefront of British character comedy. We talk about the genesis of the “Pub Landlord” and really dig into the methods behind the crowd-work at which he excels. Al provides some fascinating and unexpected insight on arena comedy, hecklers, and the state of criticism – and we also unpack in detail how he writes and structures a show.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Virtuoso sketch comedian, The Pajama Men combine rich characterisation and zinging one-liners, to the extent that one of their recent shows was the single best-reviewed work at an entire Edinburgh Fringe. They discuss their long-standing double-act dynamic, the pressures of touring, and also delve into how the audience becomes their “director”, offering a third voice to their creative process.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Although they are both of the highest quality, Phil Nichol keeps his two performance styles very separate. He gives us some very specific insight into the unusual dynamic between his constantly-evolving experimental work, and his tried-and-tested, roof-raising club set. Phil also speaks openly about anxiety, stage-fright, and the fear of somehow being “caught out”, even after years at the top of the circuit. Through it all though, he never stops chasing down the artistic epiphany. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Smartest Man In The World speaks frankly about life, lyricism and the pursuit of laughter. We talks about the evolution of Greg's linguistic style, and how he borrows from authors to make it gooder...We discuss the thrill of improvisation, and the stream-of-consciousness style that allowed him to improvise an entire standup album on the night.All this and some fascinating behind-the-scenes details on Greg's podcast, and how it is further cultivating his audience - an unmissable episode!Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After years of superb work at the very top of the circuit, Hal Cruttenden is finally breaking through into the mainstream. We talk about how the best subjects are the ones that scare him, what risks are involved when sharing his flaws so honestly, and what's made him so angry he's walked off the stage. We also learn Hal's secrets of preparation for panel games, and discover how even the successful never feel safe... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Raconteur, bon vivant and flanneur extraordinaire, the award-winning Marcel Lucont is inching his way up the comedy ladder. Alexis Dubus, Marcel's confidant, talks frankly about the differences between their styles and successes, and presents his template for a refreshingly angst-free comedy life... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Edinburgh comedy award winner Brendon Burns speaks candidly about “the most self-absorbed art-form there is”, and savages what he sees as the covert bigotry and condescension in the UK. We also delve into the dynamic between the passionate truth-teller and the self-involved teenager that comprise his persona, and discuss whether you can find solutions to your problems by making shows... Recorded live at the Gilded Balloon at the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part two of the interview sees Richard talking about his standup. He explores his status and persona onstage, admits which subjects he finds difficult to include in his act, and reflects on his frustration at being labelled derivative of his ex-double act partner. We also discuss the future of comedy in Britain and Richard's optimism in the face of a changing landscape.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richard Herring is a prolific comedian, blogger and podcaster, comprehensively mining his every experience for comic potential. As well as exploring the unique resource of his daily blog, his online strategy and some of his maddeningly self-indulgent impulses, we also discuss his success, and whether it will ever live up to his aspirations... Part two follows in the next episode of this podcast. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you make comedy out of stuff that hurts? The low-falutin' Jarlath Regan opens up about the near-tragic event he turned into a show, and why he had to leave his own country to pursue comedy. We also explore the pros of flyering your festival show yourself; posing as your own agent; and what Jarlath will say to Louis CK's face if he ever meets him... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Milo McCabe is a superb character act with an unusual origin. We discuss growing up in the shadow of a comedian father, and the use of NLP and other psychological techniques to cope with the demands of life on stage. We also delve into his experience of Phil Burgers' infamous clown workshops, and how Milo is putting some of that learning into practice. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the second Live special, and London-based Australian gagsmith Benny Boot lets us in on his effervescent cartoon-like imagination. We talk about the unusual techniques he employs to create a writing environment, why the true stories of his checkered past don't fly, and how long he can keep an owl impression going...*** This episode suffers from audio issues which do not represent the usual quality of the podcast *** Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A study in confidence, Australian Tom Gleeson trades in lean, punchy material that batters an audience into submission. We discuss how "comedy's Lex Luthor" changed from being a competent but boring standup, into a forceful presence with absolute faith in his comic perspective.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Talented, dedicated and analytical, Melbourne-based Alasdair Tremblay-Birchall is part of a new generation of comics. We discuss the acquisition of stage-time in a town with relatively few gigging opportunities, and geek out over the “mathematics” of joke-writing. Alasdair also reveals the ten thousand dollar motivational gamble that got his head in the game... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Felicity Ward hilariously combines expert physical characterisation with heartfelt storytelling. Speaking just after the recording of her first DVD in Melbourne, she describes her creative process, her experiences in pilot season in L.A., and her strategies for coping with the self-criticism that can make her want to run from the stage. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The quintessential comic raconteur, Tom Allen's work sizzles with wit, candour and warmth. We discuss his rhythm, musicality and sociable methods of generating material, as well as investigating the self-criticism and loneliness with which he sometimes struggles. This delightful man also makes a convincing case for recognising comedians as "artists who are entitled to support"... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With an unselfconscious charm and a superb skill for finding the funny in true stories, Geraldine Hickey is a delightful comedian to spend an hour with. We talk about her recently-discovered sexuality and the perspective it gives her on previous work. We also explore the Melbourne comedy scene, “running one's own race”, and the benefits of combining a comedy career with an enjoyable second job. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Known for his hyper-personal material about death, infidelity and suicide, David Quirk is happy to be an outsider, to the comedy community as well as his audience. We discuss the tropes of contemporary standup and David's decision to move away from them; the need to watch other people's shows or not; and what it feels like to release oneself from the compulsion to be funny. We also touch on negative-sounding noises that mean people hate you. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rubber-legged comedy mantis Asher Treleaven has been nominated for the most prestigious awards in the UK and Australia. He talks here about his transition from art-house darling to club-fit road act, and the changes in his strategy towards festivals. As well as exploring the development of his persona, he's also admirably frank in describing his concerns about a dwindling audience, something he faces despite his critical acclaim... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Variety superstar Clarke MacFarlane blends elements of stand-up, clowning and skills to create the show-stopping, crowd-surfing "Mario, Queen of the Circus". Touring with La Clique and La Soiree has allowed him to hone his act to perfection over years, but he still "pays his dues" with regular streetshows. We discuss his work rate and workaholism, his respect for standups, and his bizarre pre-performance habits, not to mention the dark voices that plague even a top level act such as himself.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lindsay Webb is comedy's Mr Queensland. A hard-working positive-thinker, he once held a Guinness World Record for the longest stand-up show, and manages to make waves in the industry without a consistent TV profile. We also get an overview of the Australian comedy industry, and Lindsay opens up about his dismissal from national radio. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Suede-hooved waffler Carl Donnelly makes comic storytelling look easy. His turn of phrase and relaxed narrative style has influenced a wave of newer acts, but his eye for a genuinely funny idea sets him apart from his emulators. We discuss the importance of the truth in his work, and he also bangs on about theta-waves. Christ knows. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heath Franklin performs stand-up as his alter-ego “Chopper”, a caricature of Australia's infamous career criminal and self-promoter. We explore the careful path Heath treads to avoid encouraging fans of the real thing, and instead make the character a victim of his own rage. We also uncover the challenges faced by a talented comic phasing out a successful character, in the search for richer pickings from his own identity...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The only man who can say “cunt” in America, Jim Jefferies uses his brutal comic instinct to tell somehow heart-warming stories. He discusses here the self-deprecation that makes dirty comedy acceptable, the importance of identifying the correct victim, and the formula that underpins his live shows. We also talk about the one subject he won't make jokes about, and his fondness for Sondheim. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How close is Rhod Gilbert's furious persona to his real self? In this revealing interview, the workaholic wizard discusses truth and fiction, lonely walks on Welsh cliff paths, and going a bit mental on callbacks. We also explore the therapeutic value of making comedy; but is Rhod really ready to sign himself out of the asylum? Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He might look like he's just won a Duke of Edinburgh Award, but he's got a mean streak a mile wide... In this special episode recorded live after a 30min performance, thrillingly talented “Slim Jimmy” Acaster reveals the difference between his real self and his onstage persona. We discuss sensitivity to the direction in which one's audience want to be taken, and also explore how James overcame the need for truth in his material, by hiding under a bush in a dress.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the nicest men in comedy, with an effervescent wit and fantastic jokes, Rob Rouse is also better placed than most to observe the ups and downs of a career in TV. He talks here candidly about the effect his changing fortunes have had on his outlook, and how his family life has helped him grow as a comic as well as a man.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Grant is one of the hardest-working comedians in Britain, with an unshakeable belief in the meritocracy of comedy. We go into depth on how we writes for himself and with other higher-profile comics including Seann Walsh and Russell Kane. He also shares with us some very perceptive analysis of the comedy circuit and proves mathematically that one can never run out of funny. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stu's on holiday! But you can still experience the brief but fascinating interview Stu held with comedian Michael Legge at Michael's "All Day Edinburgh" gala show. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Terry Alderton is an electrifying comic, with extraordinary energy, passion and invention; he's also one of the bravest performers I know. In spite of his hugely loved and respected work however, he still has feelings of being an outsider to the comedy circuit. He talks here with remarkable candour about his doubts, the review that reduced him to tears and the book that changed his life. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Big-hearted gangshow “Pappy's” are the sweatiest, loveliest bunch of dickheads you could ever hope to see pretending to be in their twenties on BBC3. In this live show they discuss writing in a threesome, taking one for the team, and what makes critics “jizz themselves”.We also discover the painful truth about how they went from a four to a three, and learn how hard it is to write award-winning sketch comedy when you don't know any of the hotkeys.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are stand-up comedians simply repressed clowns? That's the question posed by Phil Burgers, iconoclastic creator of the deliriously funny “Dr Brown”. He passionately explores the the importance of receiving an audience not transmitting to them, searching for the pleasure in being an idiot, and why “need” kills comedy. He also explains how he has created work by improvising a completely new show, every night of a festival. This podcast could change your performing life.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rapper and comedian Rob Broderick AKA Abandoman is a force of nature, whose invincible positivity is matched only by his breathtaking performance skill. He talks in depth about his origins in rap and comedy, and how he combines the two today. We also cover why "Hulk hands" can be a substitute for jokes, and what happens when two nice men attempt to battle-rap...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike Gunn survived a serious drug addiction to become a circuit favourite, loved for the warmth in his dark humour, and for his exceptional joke-writing. As well as including some excellent practical suggestions for playing important clubs and surviving corporate work, he also talks in depth about his creative process, and his unique journey from weeping photocopier-repairman to thriving TV comic.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you missed Eddie Pepitone in his first UK appearances at this year's Edinburgh Fringe, you're a chump. A truly mesmerising comic's comic, and subject of documentary “The Bitter Buddha”, he unearths howling cosmic pain in the most mundane of places. In this live show, Eddie discusses how improvisation allows him to write “with” his audience. Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hannibal Buress was described by Chris Rock as “the funniest young comic i've seen in years”. In this Edinburgh Fringe show he talks to us about working on Saturday Night Live and 30Rock, and goes into detail on his own process, performance, and why he won't give up on the “penguin meat” bit... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Multi award-winning "The Boy With Tape On His Face" is the silent comedy creation of Sam Wills. Sam talks us in detail through his journey from "performing monkey" to audience manipulator extraordinaire, reveals his creative process, and explains his frustration with Mr Bean...Musical, New Zealand, Comedy Music, Street-Performing, Sam Wills, Physical Comedy, Tim Burton, The Royal Variety Performance, Circus, Clown, Jarred Christmas, Silent Comedy, Mr Bean Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark has 25 years' experience of tickling ribs and strangers, in the US and the UK. He discusses writing in a workshop format, and the relationship between script and improvisation. He also seems to be one of the happiest guests the show has ever had... Can Stu convince him that he's actually bitter and unsuccessful? Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alan Davies is best known in the UK as a panellist on QI and as the star of Jonathan Creek, but he's recently returned to his roots as a superb observational stand up. In this live show from the Gilded Balloon, he describes in detail his process for turning notes into jokes, and how he goes about structuring a tour show. He also reads from some of his old comedy notebooks, and explores why theatre people have it easy...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Josh Widdicombe is a rising star on the UK circuit, with a host of competition wins and nominations to his name. He's also a champion of pure observational comedy, and here articulates in fascinating depth the process by which he creates and structures his material. But is his main drive really “fear and negativity”? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Failed waitress Celia Pacquola likes to imagine dying in the arms of people she's only just met. A gifted storyteller with an effervescent charm, she discusses how to mine different perspectives on a story, how far back to pull the arrow, and the joy of being underestimated... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Twinkling anecdotalist Fred was the first Scot to MC the Comedy Store, and now presents his own show on BBC Radio Scotland, as well as touring his stand-up. He explains his preference for finding the funny in a live context instead of at a laptop, and reflects on when "funny isn't good enough". NB - This episode has a sound recording problem which doesn't reflect the quality of usual episodes. Apologies to Fred, and to you the listener.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Noel is retiring from comedy, after more than 15 years as a highly sought-after one-liner and prop comic. Straddling the worlds of stand-up, magic and street-performing, he offers a unique perspective on the lost art of honing the same act over an entire career, as well as some fascinating theories on fame, happiness and finding one's niche.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this show, recorded live at the Gilded Balloon during the Edinburgh Fringe, pioneering comedian Sara Pascoe talks at length about her writing methods and quite unique career goals. Resourceful, articulate and extremely funny, she explores how her entire life turned out to be an unknowing training-camp for stand-up, also sharing the contents of her notebook, and how she might unpack some of her new ideas... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Liam would rather be accused of fascism than being boring. Leaving behind the "intellectualised whimsy" of his former persona, he has embarked on a quest to say the unsayable. Find out why Tim Minchin makes him angry, and the precise circumstances under which one might shoot a child in the legs.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alun's comedy displays a unique mastery of subtlety and texture. He talks us stage by stage through the creation of one of his most recognisable routines, and articulates the power of the stand-up monologue as a means of processing life.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arthur is an almost shamanic figure on the UK comedy scene; a warrior-poet who combines a love of language with a healthy disregard for some of society's formalities. He talks here about learning to write without fear, and the need to "kill the cliche".Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insidersGet tickets for Stu Goldsmith's stand-up tour at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.comAnd don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Millican is relentless and wonderful. A household name in the UK for her stand-up comedy, she is also a massive comedy nerd and has a lot to say about her favourite subject. As well as going into detail on her writing process, she discusses some of the unique challenges faced by a high-profile act, including playing large rooms and preparing for panel shows. She also has plenty of tips for newer acts on how to escape the day-job and turn pro.Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam Bloom understands jokes in a way most of us can only dream of. From his first gig, "when the white noise stopped", to his current position as a comedian and freelance fixer of other people's gags, he lets us in on his unique perspective...Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul is that rare thing - a comic who can make the political personal and vice versa. He lets us into his well-ordered but intriguing view of comedy and the world, from the comfort of his Mazda...The Now Show, Marcus Brigstocke, Steve Hughes, Hal Cruttenden, Ian Stone, Alastair Barrie, The BNP, Jim Davidson, David Cameron, Cutting Edge, The Comedy Store, Daniel Kitson, Dan Nightingale, Toby Jones, XS Malarkey, Pete Waterman, The Chase, Tim Vine, Mickey Flanagan, Milton Jones, Gina Yashere, Ed Byrne, Simon Pegg, Banana Cabaret, Ha Bloody Ha Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Already an experienced headliner, Ben is on a continuing quest to unleash the improvisational demon within. But can he run naked into battle without the temptation to put his pants back on? Also discussed: why comedians are such terrible human beings.Trapdoor Comedy Club, West End Centre, Aldershot, The Cartoon, The Plough, Clapham Jongleurs, Late N Live, Noel James, Ivor Dembina, Patrick Marber, The BAR, Willesden, Paul Tonkinson, Rudi Lickwood, Victoria Coren, The Comedy Store, Setlist, Matt Kirshen, Paul Provenza, Glastonbury, Ed Byrne, Dara O'Briain, Andrew Maxwell, Glenn Wool, Edinburgh PBH Free Fringe, Barnstormers, The Gulbenkian, Canterbury, Tony Hancock Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Episode 3, and Stu interviews Dan Antopolski in his writing-cellar.  Dan explores how to wrong-foot an audience's assumptions, and argues comedy is an art not simply a craft.Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Purple Turtle, Jigsaw, The Dinks, Lenny Henry, Ben Elton, Harry Enfield, Friday Night Live, Saturday Night Live, Fry and Laurie, We Are Klang, Rich Hall, Stewart Lee, Harry Hill, Eddie Izzard, Sean Lock, Simon Munnery, David “Kid” Jensen, Tom Craine, Nat Luurtsema, Craig Campbell, Tony Law, The Mighty Boosh, Tom Basden, Rob Deering, The Comedy Store Players, Alexei Sayle, Micky Flanagan, Mark Watson, Ross Noble, Louis CK, Christopher Hitchens Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Live once more at the Top Secret Comedy Club, Stuart interviews unsung king of the one-liner, Dan Evans. Dan confesses to sometimes regarding his fellow humans as insects.Political, Monty Python, Edinburgh, One Liners, Radio, Jo Caulfield, Writing On Stage, Dan Evans, Friday Night Live, George Egg, Comedy Cafe, Bill Bailey, Richard Curtis, Stage Persona Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this opening show, Stuart Goldsmith grills fabulous comedian Rob Deering, live at the Top Secret Comedy Club, Covent Garden.Rob admits he drinks with strangers...www.robdeering.com | @DeeringRobGet ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiderswww.comedianscomedian.com | @ComComPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.