The Comedian's Comedian Podcast

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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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.