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 | @birdmanwatching
Tickets for Markus' Ed Fringe show Last White Christmas

Tickets for my show Primer at this year's Edinburgh Fringe

@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Age, Alcohol, Alternative Comedy, Alun Cochrane, Art, Audience Participation, Audiences, Awards, Comedy, Compere/MC/Hosting, Dark Humour, Drinking, Edinburgh, Festival, Festival Comedian, First Open Spot, Fringe, Inspiration, Interview, James Acaster, Lee Evans, Markus Birdman, Mental Health, Money, Music, Onstage Persona, Paul Sinha, Persona, Simon Munnery, So You Think You’re Funny, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Stereotypes, Stewart Lee, Storytelling, Structure, Success, Tom Gleeson, Twitter, Worth, Writing, Writing Jokes

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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/insiders

Find Russell's comedy album, consisting of three different hours recorded in Edinburgh 2016 at www.russellhicks.co.uk

See my show Primer at this year's Edinburgh Fringe

@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Alex Edelman, Alternative Comedy, Audience Participation, Audiences, Awards, Bill Hicks, Bob Slayer, Comedy, Comedy Store, Daniel Kitson, Dave Chappelle, Edinburgh, Festival, Fringe, Interview, Jobs, John Gordillo, Johnny Vegas, Lenny Bruce, London, Marc Maron, Maria Bamford, Mental Health, Money, Netflix, Onstage Persona, Persona, Phil Kay, Reviews, Ross Noble, Russell Hicks, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Structure, Success, USA, Viral, Worth, Writing, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage, YouTube

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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 | @EugeneMirman

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

Get 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 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

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Acting, Alternative Comedy, Andy Kindler, Archer, Audiences, Bob's Burgers, Comedy, Comedy Central, Daniel Kitson, David Cross, Flight Of The Conchords, Interview, Isolation, Jimmy Kimmel, Jobs, Live, Marc Maron, Maria Bamford, Modest Mouse, Netflix, Onstage Persona, Patton Oswalt, Persona, Podcasting, Risk, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Success, SXSW, The Colbert Report, The Shins, Todd Barry, TV, Twitter, USA, Worth, Writing, Writing Jokes, Yo La Tengo

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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.com

Book 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 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  

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Acting, Adam Hills, Age, Alternative Comedy, Audiences, Bill Hicks, Comedy, Comedy Central, Compere/MC/Hosting, Corporate Gigs, Corporate Work, David Letterman, Emo Phillips, Fame, Interview, Jerry Seinfeld, Just For Laughs, Letterman, London, Mainstream, Mental Health, Netflix, Onstage Persona, Persona, Podcasting, Reviews, Rich Hall, Richard Gere, Risk, Robin Williams, Russell Peters, Seinfeld, Selling Out, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Steve Martin, Storytelling, Street-Performing, Structure, Success, TV, TV Comedy, USA, Woody Allen, Worth, Writing, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage, YouTube

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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/insiders

Jeff Innocent Comedy Academy | www.jeffinnocent.com | @InnocentJeff

Book 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 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. Special Offer:
If you'd like to book Stu's 60min presentation "What Comedy Can Teach Your Business About Resilience" COMPLETELY FREE, there are a strictly limited number of talks available that I'll be using for rehearsal purposes!
Apply by emailing info (a t) comedianscomedian.com if you're in a position to assemble a team of 20 or more members of your staff, who'd benefit from an energising hour about bouncing back from difficult situations, with loads of takeaway tools.

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Acting, Adam Bloom, Age, Alternative Comedy, Alun Cochrane, Arthur Smith, Audiences, Brendon Burns, Comedy, Comedy Store, Edgy, Equality, Fame, George Carlin, Heckles, Interview, Jobs, Jon Robins, Jongleurs, Mark Thomas, Micky Flanagan, Miranda Hart, Money, Omid Djallili, Onstage Persona, Open Spot, Persona, Podcasting, Poetry, political, Political Humour, Racism, Reginald D. Hunter, Reviews, Rhod Gilbert, Rik Mayall, Risk, Ross Noble, School, Shakespeare, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Stereotypes, Steve Martin, Storytelling, Structure, Success, The Comedy Store, The Young Ones, Tony Allen, Twitter, Up The Creek, Worth, Writing, Writing Jokes

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"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:
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 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: Acting, Actor, Alternative Comedy, Audiences, BBC, Clown, Comedy, Dr Brown, Edinburgh, Festival, First Open Spot, Fringe, Improv, Interview, Isolation, Jimmy Carr, Jobs, John Kearns, John Luke Roberts, Kate Copstick, Robin Ince, Sam Simmons, Sarah Millican, Simon Munnery, So You Think You’re Funny, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Stewart Lee, Success, The Comedy Store, The Guardian, Tom Allen, Tommy Cooper, Tony Law, Twitter, Underbelly, Vic And Bob, Whimsy, Writing, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage, YouTube

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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 @AlexEdelman www.comedianscomedian.com @StuGoldsmith @ComComPod

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Al Murray, Alex Edelman, Alternative Comedy, Audiences, BBC, Best Newcomer, Bill Burr, Bo Burnham, Brain Regan, Brian Regan, Bridget Christie, Chris Rock, Comedy, Directing, Edinburgh, Ego, Festival, Fin Taylor, First Open Spot, Fringe, HAIM, Interview, James Acaster, Jerry Seinfeld, Jewish Comedy, Jobs, John Kearns, Josh Widdicombe, Josie Long, Mental Health, Onstage Persona, Persona, Radio 4, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Storytelling, Structure, Success, The 1975, The Guardian, USA, Writing, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage

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Paul Foot has one of the most refreshingly original comic voices in the world. We delve deep into the 13 years he spent being brilliant but unreliable, and the psychological toll imposed by the heroic deaths necessary to achieve genuine excellence. We talk about his writing partnership, his "guild of connoisseurs", and the Australian run of shows that changed everything...  

Hungry for more? Experience Paul's jaw-droppingly comprehensive 30 minute explanation of his "seven styles of comedy" (possibly impenetrable to the casual listener), and discover the origin of his utterly unique dress code, all available now to members of the Insiders Club!   

Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to support the show with £2 per month or more, and get access to a treasure trove of secret podcast extra material and special projects, including the chance to interview Stu on the subject of your choice, or give community feedback to clips from up and coming comedians.   

See Paul Foot at this year's Ed Fringe  
@PaulFoot  
www.paulfoot.tv  
The Guild of Connoisseurs  

See Stu's new show "End Of" at Edinburgh this August!  
@ComComPod

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Alternative Comedy, Audiences, Comedy, Edinburgh, Festival, Festival Comedian, First Open Spot, Fringe, Improv, Interview, Jobs, Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Noel Fielding, Onstage Persona, Persona, Reality TV, Reviews, Risk, So You Think You’re Funny, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Stand Up For The Week, Structure, Success, Surreal, Touring Comedian, TV, USA, Worth, Would I Lie To You?, Writing, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage, YouTube

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