Dusted down, and fresh from the archives, today we re-welcome the wry cynicism of the nation’s favourite chubbysvelte vegan Romesh Ranganathan.
Fearless on stage, yet his own biggest critic off it, we discuss his stratospheric – and largely unplanned – comic success. We place parenthood under the microscope, revise his former vocations as teacher and rapper, before discovering that stolen jokes fuelled his first ever gig... a 1987 Pontins talent show.
Stu's new comedy special "I Need You Alive" has a worldwide digital premiere on Feb 23rd, see the trailer and find the ticket link at www.stuartgoldsmith.com
In today’s trip down memory lane, the ever effervescent Shaparak Khorsandi leads the way – with a quick stop off at Comedy’s figurative playground – via her own yellow brick road. We dissect second chances, shifting statuses, and how the pursuit of money stunts artistic quality...
Candid, nuanced, and not lacking in poise, Shaparak opens up on the difficult situations to which her early standup inexperience subjected her, and the realisation of how bullying is ultimately rooted in jealousy.
Stu's new comedy special "I Need You Alive" has a worldwide digital premiere on Feb 23rd, see the trailer and find the ticket link at www.stuartgoldsmith.com
With his dishevelled appearance and wild energy, you might not be surprised to learn that the wonderfully funny Bobby Mair has had “more therapists than girlfriends”. We talk about his Canadian comedy work ethic, the trick of making the audience your friend, and find out why bad gigs in the UK are still good.
We delve into his origins, starting comedy coincidentally during a traumatic and grief-stricken phase in his life; find out what a relief it was after 16 years to write an observational joke that didn’t derive from trauma; and discover why comedy didn’t save Bobby’s life.
20 mins of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club includes Bobby on the “Killer Camp” reality show he hosted; some exploration of his mental robustness; and how he went viral as the worst comic in the world…
Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including the exclusive Insiders with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.
Stu offers remote and in-person talks to business, distilling insights from over 400 comics on cultivating resilience and the ability to bounce back, to all levels from C-suite to team members.
“There’s perfect and there’s perfect; and that was perfect.” -- David Cooper, Chief People Officer Circle Health Group
If you thought wrestlers shared some of the tropes of comedians’ lives, wait til you hear about historians! Comedy-adjacent public historian, writer of “Dead Famous” and other superb books, and creator and host of “You’re Dead To Me” (BBC Sounds) Greg Jenner had factual oversight on every word of Horrible Histories ever recorded, and wrote some of the jokes too. He’s also a student of ComCom and probably our most learned ever guest…
We talk about his creative process in constructing analogies that package and frame his research; learn about the pitfalls of generalising and the responsibility of the historian; and he shares his deeply personal struggle with mental health, anxiety and extraordinary insomnia, and they effect they still have on his fraught relationship with celebrity.
30 mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club include Greg delving further into his anxieties, particularly those that accrete around social media and listener feedback; the joy of online kindness; “factoids” and his doomed quest to rid the internet of viral “fake facts”; and we learn about the hidden link between Rattus Rattus from Horrible Histories and Greg himself.
Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for this and much more, including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, James Acaster and Alfie Brown, and your invite to the forthcoming ones with Fern Brady and a “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet (MClinPsych)
Host of Live at the Apollo, and with her own Netflix special under her belt, not to mention The Mash Report and appearances on QI and Mock The Week, Ellie Taylor is a born comedian who revels in the dynamic between glamour and grotesque. We discuss her unique introduction to comedy via reality show, how her happy life outside of comedy protects her, the weird science of writing and why she "can't do clever topics"...
Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders
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
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.
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!
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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!
