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 show
ahirshah.com | @AhirShah

See my show Primer at this year's Edinburgh Fringe
@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com

www.theirworld.org | www.educationcannotwait.org

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Ahir Shah, Audiences, BBC, College, Comedy, Competitions, Edinburgh, Emo Phillips, Festival, First Open Spot, Free Fringe, Fringe, Have I Got News For You, Interview, London, Mental Health, Nish Kumar, Observational Comedy, Onstage Persona, Panel Shows, political, Radio, Reviews, Risk, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Stereotypes, Structure, Success, TV, Worth, Writing, Writing Jokes

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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/insiders

www.andiosho.co.uk | @andiosho | @theandioshow

See my show Primer at this year's Edinburgh Fringe

@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Acting, Actor, Andi Osho, BBC, College, Comedy, Curfew, Depression, Drama School, Edinburgh, Fame, Fear, Festival, Gender, Gina Yashere, Interview, Jobs, LA, Lights Out, Live At The Apollo, London, Mainstream, Mental Health, Mock The Week, Onstage Persona, Panel Shows, Persona, Radio, Risk, Sara Pascoe, Shazam!, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Success, TV, Twitter, USA, Whoopi Goldberg, Worth

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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 jokes
• How Bec dealt with a new act reproducing a very specific aspect of her style and what she fears from big business
• Bec and Stu share some more private stuff about what success means to us both.

Sign up now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders

See Bec at this year's Ed Fringe here

www.bechillcomedian.com | @bechillcomedian

See my show at Soho Theatre between 9th-11th May 

And come and see me at the Ed Fringe
@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com

This episode was recorded at The Cheese Comedy Club, Bristol

www.facebook.com/thecheesecomedyclub/ | cheesecomedy.club | @cheese_comedy

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Acting, Actor, Adelaide, Audiences, Australia, Awards, Bec Hill, Comedy, Eddie Izzard, Edinburgh, Ego, Equality, Fear, Festival, Festival Comedian, Fringe, Gaming, Gender, Glee Club, Hannah Gadsby, Improv, Interview, Jobs, Josie Long, Mental Health, Onstage Persona, Persona, Plagiarism, Reviews, School, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Storytelling, Structure, Success, Twitter, Viral, Whimsy, Writing, Writing Jokes, YouTube

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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, Comedy, 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, Stand Up, Structure, Success, Suzi Ruffell, The Guardian, The Guilty Feminist, TV, Twitter, Victoria Wood, Worth, Writing, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage, YouTube

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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/insiders

And see Sindhu on tour HERE.

@sindhuvfunny | sindhuvee.com

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

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Age, Argument, Audiences, BBC, BBC4, College, Comedy, Depression, Eddie Murphy, Edinburgh, Ego, Equality, Fame, Fear, Festival, First Open Spot, Free Fringe, Fringe, Gender, Heckles, India, Indian Comedy, Inspiration, Interview, Isolation, Jobs, Live, Live At The Apollo, London, Mental Health, Onstage Persona, Open Mic, Persona, Radio 4, Risk, School, Sexuality, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Success, TV, Twitter, Up The Creek, Worth, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage

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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, Comedy, 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, Stand Up, Stormy Daniels, Success, SXSW, Tarantino, Trump, TV, TV Comedy, Twitter, USA, Viral, Worth, Writing, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage

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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 Blog

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

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Audiences, Character, Character Comedy, Charlie Brooker, Comedy, Eddie Izzard, Ego, Fame, First Open Spot, Gaming, Horror, Interview, Isolation, Jobs, Mental Health, Mogworld, Monty Python, Open Mic, Persona, Podcasting, Problems, Reviews, Risk, Stage Persona, Stereotypes, Success, Worth, Writing, Writing Jokes, YouTube, Zero Punctuation

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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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