The Comedian's Comedian Podcast

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.