Exploding supernova Jordan Gray has just had the Edinburgh that every newer act dreams of: five-star reviews across the board, sell-out shows, a transfer to the Palladium, as well as being made an honorary X-Man by Sir Ian McKellen. She’s an extraordinarily funny, talented and skilled act who’s managed to pull an absolute Minchin!

We talk about the danger of believing your own hype, why she has to be an example not just a comedian, and we get an intimate snapshot of the very early stages of the sorts of hard choices that await someone experiencing this kind of success…

25mins of extras available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club include Jordan on her music career as “Tall Dark Friend”, the most heartbreaking thing to hear after a gig, and she takes Stu to task on his skittishness! We also get an incredibly useful breakdown of the transferable skills a comic can bring to script writing, and find out why she wears a jump-suit and why she very deliberately isn’t “fabulous”…

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 Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.

Catch up with Jordan:

http://JordanGrayLive.co.uk
TW/IG: @talldarkfriend
Don’t miss Jordan live at the London Palladium on 28th October!

Everything Stu's up to:
Podcast community links
Social media handles and comedy clips
And Stu’s official YouTube channel…
Are all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmith
Or visit:
www.comedianscomedian.com
www.stuartgoldsmith.com
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

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Acting, Age, Art, Audience Participation, Audiences, Awards, BBC, BBC4, Dave Chappelle, Edinburgh, Festival, Fringe, Interview, Jeff Buckley, Jordan Gray, Sir Ian McKellen, Stage Persona, Success, The Voice

Everyone’s favourite “clown in a gown”, Bianca Del Rio is an unstoppable onslaught of insult comedy, swathed in haute couture, and concealing an absolute gem in the form of Roy Haylock, who talks to Stu out of makeup and only occasionally in character…

Currently in the middle of a colossal tour, which drops into the Edinburgh Fringe this week, we talk about the unique crucible of combative performance circumstances that created her; how her surprising attitude to the RuPaul’s Drag Race interviews helped her shine; and how to “eliminate fuckery”. Plus: the secret benefit to doing meet & greets (it’s not the money!), and an astonishing claim not to spend any time at all writing her huge tour shows…

Experience Bianca Del Rio live at the Edinburgh Fringe from 18th Aug!

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/bianca-del-rio-unsanitized

And find all the tour info you need at:

www.thebiancadelrio.com

TW/IG: @thebiancadelrio

Photo credit Matt Crockett

Everything Stu's up to

Find links to:

Stu’s show at Edinburgh Fringe: Monkey Barrel, 13:25 (4-11th only)

Podcast community links

Social media handles and comedy clips

And his official YouTube channel…

All via:

linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmith

Or visit his sites:

www.comedianscomedian.com

www.stuartgoldsmith.com

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Interview

Musical Theatre Comedy star, YouTube pioneer and Stu’s one-time wrestling partner, Jenny Bede is off to the Edinburgh Fringe with her new baby in tow, for her show “The First Pregnant Woman In The World”.  We talk about the potential downside of being a triple threat; how she coped with awful musical theatre auditions; her recent ADHD diagnosis and how she learned to stop apologising and do an impression of having swagger…

We also explore her early work creating comedy songs on YouTube, how she hit the dizzy heights and why she decided to pull the plug…

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 Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.

Catch up with Jenny Bede:

Jenny’s Edinburgh Fringe show is called “The First Pregnant Woman In The World” and it’s on at 18:55 daily at Underbelly Bristo Square:
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/jenny-bede-the-first-pregnant-woman-in-the-world
TW/IG: @JennyBede
www.jennybede.co.uk

Everything Stu's up to

Find links to:

Stu’s show at Edinburgh Fringe: Monkey Barrel, 13:25 (4-11th only) Podcast community links Social media handles and comedy clips And his official YouTube channel…
All via:

linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmith

Or visit his sites:

www.comedianscomedian.com

www.stuartgoldsmith.com

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

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Acting, Age, Audiences, Edinburgh, Festival, Fringe, Interview, Jenny Bede, Risk, Stage Persona, Success, Suzi Ruffell

Roll up, roll up, and prepare for some artfully packaged eco-doom, as Stuart investigates the shift from hope to hopelessness that we all endure in the face of climate extinction. What will the future hold? Will it be a Mad Max, a The Road, or will we get away with just a Children Of Men?

1.25pm daily from 4-11th Aug only, at The Monkey Barrel

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/stuart-goldsmith-a-shared-illusion-wip

www.stuartgoldsmith.com

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Audiences, comcompod, Edinburgh, Festival, Fringe, Stuart Goldsmith

A uniquely nuanced voice in comedy, the riotously imaginative Tom Ward balances gleeful absorption in the creative process and robustly-managed mental health.

Destined to become a fan favourite, this episode sees Tom sensitively exploring: why comics with certainty make him suspicious; his internal landscape and how he copes with the non-triggered meltdowns occasioned by his Complex PTSD; and how his careful devotion to doing one thing at a time impacts his creativity.
He also uses a burner phone so he can’t get distracted whilst writing… •chef’s kiss•

25 mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club includes Tom on the therapeutic value of comedy for good or ill; how his stolen Casio beats keep his ambiguity accessible; and the shared desire to write “a joke so good that he doesn’t die alone”.

Catch up with Tom:
www.tomwardvoice.com
IG: @tomwardcomedian
www.facebook.com/tomwardcomedian
Tom Ward: Anthem plays at Monkey Barrel at The Edinburgh Fringe from 3-28th Aug 2022 @22.25

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/tom-ward-anthem

Everything Stu's up to

Find links to:
Stu’s show at Edinburgh Fringe: Monkey Barrel, 13:25 (4-11th only)
Podcast community links
Social media handles and comedy clips
And his official YouTube channel…
All via:
linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmith

Or visit his sites:
www.comedianscomedian.com
www.stuartgoldsmith.com

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

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Audiences, COVID-19, Edinburgh, Festival, Fringe, Interview, Live At The Apollo, Persona, QI, Reviews, Risk, Sean Lock, Stage Persona, Success, Tom Ward

Barnstorming breakthrough-in-waiting, Sean McLoughlin is extremely adept at big chunky stand-up with an interesting moral core. We outline his journey from an angry young man who either needed “a hug or a slap”, through the transformative effects of both being onstage and getting proper therapy, to a towering performer with gigs at the Palladium, Sydney Opera House and the Royal Albert Hall under his belt.  We also discover his conscious effort to maintain eye contact; how he became more reliable to bookers; and whether tall people come across as angry when they’re just animated…

25 mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club includes Sean’s reaction to sharing a name with one of the most famous people on the internet; and advice for comics starting tour support, which Sean has done at the highest level, from Sydney Opera House to the Royal Albert Hall, in service of comics like Bill Burr, Katherine Ryan and Ricky Gervais.

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 Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.

Catch up with Sean McLoughlin:

Edinburgh Fringe: Pleasance Beneath, 19:55
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/sean-mcloughlin-so-be-it
Podcast “Failing Better” with Jonny Pelham: @failingpod
www.seanmcloughlincomedy.com
TW: @seanmcloughlin
IG: @seanmcloughlincomedy

Everything Stu's up to:

Edinburgh Fringe: Monkey Barrel, 13:25 (4-11th only)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/stuart-goldsmith-a-shared-illusion-wip
This podcast is @ComComPod on Twitter
www.comedianscomedian.com
IG and Tik: @stuartgoldsmithcomedy
Find out everything Stu’s up to at www.stuartgoldsmith.com

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

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: 30 Rock, Adam Hess, Age, Audience Participation, Audiences, Bill Burr, Carl Donnelly, Chris Martin, Chris Rock, College, comcompod, Corona, Dara O'Briain, Edinburgh, Fear, Festival, Fringe, Interview, Jobs, Jonny Pelham, Katherine Ryan, Laughing Horse, London, Mat Ewins, Mental Health, Onstage Persona, Open Mic, Persona, Podcasting, Reviews, Ricky Gervais, Risk, Sean McLoughlin, Stage Persona, student comedy, Success, The Beatles

Sharp as a tack and with a scientific bent that underpins her charming demeanour, Ria Lina is experiencing a TV-takeover career breakthrough.  We talk about the different preparation required for Mock The Week, Have I Got News For You and QI; why the fact that a comedy career has no end point is so addictive; and how the recent increase in diversity on the circuit gave her an insight into embracing a more distinct character.

With degrees in virology, pathology and forensics, we also learn more than you might expect about bodies washing up on shores, and ask Ria to turn her scientific mind to analysis of how to save the circuit…

25 mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club include some excellent advice to newer comics, and an investigation of which social media platforms suit which characters - and some brief thoughts on the implied consent of audience interaction videos going viral…

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 Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.

Catch up with Ria Lina:
www.rialina.com
TW/IG: @rialina_
www.tiktok.com/@rialinaofficial
www.facebook.com/rialina

Everything Stu's up to:
This podcast is @ComComPod on Twitter
www.comedianscomedian.com
IG and Tik: @stuartgoldsmithcomedy

Find out everything Stu’s up to at www.stuartgoldsmith.com

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

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Age, Audiences, Autism, Edinburgh, Fringe, Have I Got News For You, HIGNFY, Interview, Live At The Apollo, Mental Health, Mock The Week, Ria Lina, Sindhu Vee, Stage Persona, Success, Writing Jokes

Tremendous story-teller comedian Alison Spittle is a very sunny specialist in making comedy from trauma, but you’ll be furious that she’s had to undergo so much of it. We talk about her incredible new Edinburgh show “Wet”, and why it’s no longer simply about a fight during an aqua aerobics class.  We also cover her excellent shame-beating podcast “Wheel of Misfortune”; the challenge of keeping oneself emotionally secure when making comedy out of pain; and how to be powerful.

25 mins of extras available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club include Alison on her earliest material that made her feel like herself; the journey of her expressing her mental health honestly; the importance or not of doing “reps” in comedy; and the non-comedy-related quality that got her where she is…

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 Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James Acaster and Fern Brady, plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.



Catch up with Alison Spittle:

www.alisonspittle.com IG/TW: @alisonspittle

Wheel of Misfortune podcast: https://pod.link/1525520717

See Alison live in Leicester and London: http://alisonspittle.com/gigs

See “Wet” at the Edinburgh Fringe: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/alison-spittle-wet



Everything Stu's up to:

This podcast is @ComComPod on Twitter

www.comedianscomedian.com

IG and Tik: @stuartgoldsmithcomedy

Find out everything Stu’s up to at www.stuartgoldsmith.com

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

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Alison Spittle, Audiences, BBC, Bill Hicks, Blue Peter, Cancel Culture, comcompod, Coping, Eddie Murphy, Edinburgh, Fear, Feminism, Fern Brady, First Open Spot, Fringe, Interview, Irish, Kerry Katona, Mental Health, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Nish Kumar, Stage Persona, The Guilty Feminist, Tommy Tiernan, TV, Twitter, Wheel of Misfortune, Writing Jokes