Sofie Hagen is a remarkable comedian, who is arguably better known at present for her activism than her excellent work in comedy. We talk about the incredible think-tank of the small Danish circuit where she started out, and the toxicity she discovered therein; her insightful analysis of how "losers win" at the Edinburgh festival; the dual purpose of having gender neutral toilets at her shows; and get stuck into some very frank discussion of the social activism element of her profile... and exactly what it's cost her.

45 mins of extra material available exclusively to the Insiders Club includes her opening gambit of reading all the comedy books, and how her process features infinite whiteboards and structural skeletons. We also dive into the delicate balance between trauma, therapy and confessional shows, and the mistake she made that she was too late in noticing to fix... All available now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders

Tickets and info for Sofie's current tour can be found HERE.

sofiehagen.com | @SofieHagen

Catch the second leg of Stu's "End Of" tour show:
05/10/19

Edinburgh Stand (early show – 5pm)

06/10/19

Aberdeen Comedy Festival

11/10/19

Northampton Royal and Derngate

25/10/19

Teignmouth Pavillions

26/10/19

Swindon Arts Centre

04/11/19

Nottingham Glee Club

05/11/19

Birmingham Glee Club

08/11/19

Bristol – The Comedy Box at the Hen and Chicken

04/12/19

Aldershot – The West End Centre

25/01/20

Corsham – The Pound Arts Centre

01/02/20

Newcastle Stand (early show – 5pm)

02/02/20

Glasgow – The Stand

07/02/20

Farnham Maltings

28/02/20

Cambridge Junction

comedianscomedian.com | @ComComPod

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: ACMS, Argument, Audiences, Controversial, Criticism, Edinburgh, Fear, Feminism, Feminist, Festival, First Open Spot, Fringe, Interview, Sofie Hagen, Stage Persona, Success, Twitter, Writing Jokes

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.com

Get tickets to my new tour dates at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour or on any of the following venues below:

27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican

9-11/05/2019 Soho Theatre, London

05/10/19 Edinburgh Stand (early show – 5pm)

11/10/19 Northampton Royal and Derngate

25/10/19 Teignmouth Pavillions

26/10/19 Swindon Arts Centre

04/11/19 Nottingham Glee Club

05/11/19 Birmingham Glee Club

08/11/19 Bristol - The Comedy Box at the Hen and Chicken

04/12/19 Aldershot - The West End Centre

25/01/20 Corsham - The Pound Arts Centre

01/02/20 Newcastle Stand (early show - 5pm)

02/02/20 Glasgow - The Stand

07/02/20 Farnham Maltings

28/02/20 Cambridge Junction

@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com

Charity Gig Shout-out!

On Monday 13th May, help support women, children, mothers and babies in the world’s poorest communities. Tickets for this gala line-up featuring loads of past ComCom guests and more besides can be got at the Leicester Square Theatre website or www.womenandchildrenfirst.org.uk/comedy

Comics new and old!

Check out www.comedy.co.uk/pro to see everything British Comedy Guide has to offer you and your career: curate your online profile on the most-visited website about UK comedy; get involved at the opportunities hub; and access exclusive articles about performing, writing and producing!

Don't forget to use the code COMCOM to get £5 off your membership.

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Acting, Audience Participation, Audiences, Australia, BBC4, Bridget Christie, Diversity, Dr Who, Drama School, Drinking, Feminism, Feminist, Fern Brady, Festival, First Open Spot, Fringe, Gender, Hannah Gadsby, Interview, Jobs, Josie Long, Katherine Ryan, Leicester Square Theatre, London, Marcus Brigstocke, Mental Health, Miranda Hart, Persona, Podcasting, Risk, Sara Pascoe, Sarah Millican, Sofie Hagen, Stage Persona, Structure, Success, Suzi Ruffell, The Guardian, The Guilty Feminist, TV, Twitter, Victoria Wood, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage, YouTube

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.com

Kathy Griffin: A Hell of a Story | @kathygriffin | imdb

Get tickets to my new tour dates at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour or on any of the following venues below:

13/03/2019 Salisbury Art Centre

20/03/2019 Cheltenham Playhouse

29/03/2019 Crawley -The Hawth

05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts

12/04/2019 Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre

17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station

19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix

27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican

9-11/05/2019 Soho Theatre, London

05/10/19 Edinburgh Stand (early show – 5pm)

11/10/19 Northampton Royal and Derngate

25/10/19 Teignmouth Pavillions

26/10/19 Swindon Arts Centre

04/11/19 Nottingham Glee Club

05/11/19 Birmingham Glee Club

08/11/19 Bristol - The Comedy Box at the Hen and Chicken

04/12/19 Aldershot - The West End Centre

25/01/20 Corsham - The Pound Arts Centre

01/02/20 Newcastle Stand (early show - 5pm)

02/02/20 Glasgow - The Stand

07/02/20 Farnham Maltings

28/02/20 Cambridge Junction

@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com

And many thanks again to Marty Lester of www.everywhereaudio.com

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: A Hell Of A Story, Acting, Actor, Age, Argument, Audiences, Awards, Blogging, Controversy, Criticism, Dark Humour, Dave Chappelle, Directing, Edgy, Exclusive, Fear, Feminism, Feminist, Gender, Interview, Isolation, Jamie Foxx, Jim Carrey, Joan Rivers, Live, Mental Health, Money, Netflix, Onstage Persona, Persona, political, Problems, Richard Pryor, Risk, Sarah Silverman, Stage Persona, Stormy Daniels, Success, SXSW, Tarantino, Trump, TV, TV Comedy, Twitter, USA, Viral, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage

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 | @jessicafostekew

Book now for LIVE ComComPods:

Mar 23rd 1pm - Live special with comedy legend TBC @ Birmingham Podcast Festival!

g>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 Farm
01/03/2019 Falmouth – The Poly
13/03/2019 Salisbury Art Centre
20/03/2019 Cheltenham Playhouse
29/03/2019 Crawley -The Hawth
05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts
12/04/2019 Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre
17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station
19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix
27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican
9-11/05/2019 Soho Theatre, London


@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com

And don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here.

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Actor, Audiences, BBC, Corporate Work, Directing, Edinburgh, Equality, Fame, Fear, Feminism, Feminist, Festival, Festival Comedian, Frankie Boyle, Fringe, Gender, Interview, Lauren Pattison, Persona, Podcasting, Romesh Ranganathan, Sara Pascoe, Sarah Millican, Stage Persona, Success, The Guilty Feminist, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage

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 Coliseum

22/02/2019 Maidenhead – Norden Farm

01/03/2019 Falmouth – The Poly

29/03/2019 Crawley -The Hawth

05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts

17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station

19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix

27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Acting, Actor, Age, Alan Partridge, Alcohol, Audiences, Brass Eye, Chris Morris, Comedy Central, Comedy Store, Criminal Minds, Criticism, Edinburgh, Ego, Fame, Fear, Feminism, Feminist, Festival, Festival Comedian, Fringe, Gender, George Carlin, Harry Enfield, Interview, Jobs, London, Mental Health, Monty Python, Mr Show, Netflix, New York, Onstage Persona, Persona, Reviews, Risk, Seinfeld, SNL, Stage Persona, Stereotypes, Steve Coogan, Steve Martin, Stewart Lee, Storytelling, Structure, Success, The Pleasance, Tina Fey, TV, TV Comedy, Twitter, USA, Woody Allen, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage

Her writing and performance in The Fast Show made her one of the most influential women in British sketch comedy; now Arabella Weir reflects on her work and the balance of power underpinning the five-man, most-often-one-woman sketch team.  We discuss the tension and friction of making comedy; whether a happy person still has the same hunger to perform; and learn the awful truth about the genesis of her character "Girl Who Boys Can't Hear"...

Follow Arabella on twitter: @arabellaweir

See Stu on tour: www.comedianscomedian.com/tour

Support the podcast: www.comedianscomedian.com/donate

Submit your own original comedy material to "Everyone's A Comedian" at comedianscomedian.com/experiment - check the site for more details!

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Acting, Actor, Age, Alexei Sayle, Audiences, Awards, Aziz Ansari, BBC, BBC One, Bottom, Caroline Aherne, Character, Character Comedy, Dawn French, Diversity, Equality, Fame, Fear, Feminism, Feminist, Gender, Inspiration, Interview, Jo Brand, Joan Rivers, Kenny Everett, Mainstream, Observational Comedy, Onstage Persona, Persona, Physical Comedy, Podcasting, Reviews, Sara Pascoe, Sexuality, Sketch, Stage Persona, Stereotypes, Structure, Success, The Fast Show, The Guardian, TV, TV Comedy, Vic And Bob, Writing Jokes

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…

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
And don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here.

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Compere/MC/Hosting, Corporate Work, Dr Brown, Dylan Moran, Eddie Izzard, Edinburgh, Feminism, Feminist, Katherine Ryan, Mental Health, Sara Pascoe, School, Shappi Khorsandi

A smart cookie based in New York, Liz Miele combines punchline density with social media acumen. She runs, she dates, she cries, she talks about it all. But is she actually as “Emotionally Exhausting” as her show suggests?

Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders

@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com
And don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here.

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Cosmopolitan, David Letterman, Emotionally Exhausting, Feminist, Feminist Sex Positions, George Carlin, Hari Kondabolu, Huffington Post, Interview, New York, Viral, YouTube