The Comedian's Comedian Podcast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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