The Comedian's Comedian Podcast

Latest Episodes:

439 - Jeff Shaw Oct 14, 2023

Show notes

In 1987, Jeff Shaw decided he was going to do comedy for a living. He meant it.

With shades of “The Story Of Anvil”, this interview follows a man who has picked himself up and started again over four decades, each time achieving a version of his dream, and surviving the paradigm shifts that have accompanied his every decade in the US comedy industry.

With tens of thousands of shows under his belt, and still chasing his dream, Jeff lays out his career as a standup, a comedy writer, and a Carnival Cruise comedy show director, before he found stand-up again, all the while displaying limitless hope, humility and gratitude…

Extras include an Insider’s guide to what works and what doesn’t on a cruise ship comedy gig, from his unique perspective of both act and booker…

Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including exclusive Insiders Q&As plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.

Catch up with Jeff:

www.comedianjeffshaw.com

TW/IG: @jeffthefundude

Everything Stu's up to:

Discover Stu’s comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at www.stuartgoldsmith.com/climate

“The funny side of climate change (no, really!)” - The Times

Find everything else you need at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmith

Or join the mailing list at:

www.comedianscomedian.com

Stu also 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.

438 - Ruth Bratt Sep 29, 2023

Show notes

This episode is a splash of pure sunshine, with the veteran of 1000 full-length improvised musicals in Olivier Award-winning “Showstopper!”, Ruth Bratt. She’s a supernaturally brilliant improviser and a sparkling human being, who is a) ambitiously lazy and b) feeds off the carrion of her own heart.

We talk about her work with some of the biggest names in her craft; entering a waking dream state during 50-hour long improv marathon shows; getting down to the last two for Dobby in “Peep Show”; and the big choice that won her a role in “People Just Do Nothing”.

30mins of extras exclusively available to members of the Insiders Club include a fascinating dissection of insider impro/v terms, including “shelving”, “deepening”, “edits, taps and swipes” as well as the “circle of ideas”, not to mention Ruth’s experiences of the “horror” of early standup…

Catch up with Ruth:

www.curtisbrown.co.uk/client/ruth-bratt

TW: @ruthbratt

IG: @brattbomb

Everything Stu's up to:

Discover Stu’s comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at www.stuartgoldsmith.com/climate

“The funny side of climate change (no, really!)” - The Times

Find everything else you need at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmith

Or join the mailing list at:

www.comedianscomedian.com

Stu also 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.

437 - Adam Bloom Returns Sep 22, 2023

Show notes

Nearly 12 years since his first appearance way back in episode 6, Adam Bloom joins us to celebrate the publication of his book “Finding Your Comic Genius” - an absolute treasure trove of his original and deeply technical comedy writing techniques. We talk about how his writing for and with huge comedians and celebrities over the years has honed his ability not just to write perfect punchlines, but also to share his knowledge with warmth and clarity.

It’s destined to be on every comedian’s bookshelf worldwide, and in this episode he shares some examples of its secrets including "balls and cubes", "see-saws", "balloon-pops" and much much more!

No extras from this one, you’ve got the whole lot, but check out the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including exclusive Insiders Q&As plus the incredible “self-help for comedians” special with Amanda Donnet.

Catch Up With Adam:

Immediately go here and buy this book!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Finding-Your-Comic-Genius-depth/dp/B0CGWWWZPM

TW: @adambloomie2

IG: @adambloomcomedy

Everything Stu's up to:

Discover Stu’s comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at www.stuartgoldsmith.com/climate

“The funny side of climate change (no, really!)” -The Times

Find live dates as well as podcast community links, social media handles and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel, all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmith

Or join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:

www.comedianscomedian.com

Stu also 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.

436 - Gareth Reynolds Sep 07, 2023

Show notes

Co-host of The Dollop podcast and a superb comic and improviser, Gareth Reynolds is touring the UK right now! In this gold-standard episode we talk about his improv characterisation, the history of his collaboration with Dave Anthony, and how taking “The Dollop Pill” has gradually changed everything he thought he knew about America.

We also get into the “robust mental health triumvirate” of improv, sports analogies and regular income, and explore his YouTube series “Ga’riffs”, in which he heroically improvised stand-up on previously-unseen audience suggestions to camera, alone in the room.

25 mins of unmissable extras available only to the Insiders Club include Gareth going deeper on the techniques and structures he employs while riffing, and exploring the fertile parallels between theatre sports, improv on-stage and crowd-work.

Catch Up With Gareth:

Get moving! Gareth is on tour with dates all over the UK from 13th-24th

www.garethreynolds.com/events

Don’t miss his new podcast with movie actor Jake Johnson “We’re Here To Help”

www.audioboom.com/channels/5113355-we-re-here-to-help

And become addicted to The Dollop at www.dolloppodcast.com

Everything Stu's up to:

Find live dates as well as podcast community links, social media handles and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel, all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmith

Or join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:

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.

435 - Nish Kumar Returns Aug 31, 2023

Show notes

Nish Kumar is one of the most powerful and provocative voices in British stand-up comedy, and his debut special “Your Power, Your Control” is streaming now on Sky On Demand & Now TV, for those in the UK & Ireland. He returns to the podcast to talk in depth about the creative process behind the writing of that show, the inciting incident in which a bread roll was thrown at him at a charity gig, and how that led to a media frenzy, terrifying death threats, and ultimately a total re-evaluation of his mental health.

We talk about making serious things funny, and the phenomenal rise of The Mash report, as well as “Birbiglifying”, “Frankensteining”, and phantom pooping…

23mins of extras exclusively available to members of the Insiders Club include Nish on his therapy journey, writing topical stuff for The Mash Report, and the rollercoaster of creating a stand-up show, from first scribblings to the marathon of the Fringe.

Catch up with Nish:

Nish’s first stand up special is streaming NOW on Sky On Demand & Now TV for those in the UK & Ireland. 

TW/IG: @MrNishKumar

www.nishkumar.co.uk

Everything Stu's up to:

Find live dates as well as podcast community links, social media handles and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel, all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmith

Or join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:

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.

434 - Lucy Beaumont Jul 28, 2023

Show notes

Most recognised for her role on Meet the Richardson’s, writer and creator of To Hull and Back (BBR4) and co-writer on C4’s Hullraisers, Lucy Beaumont is about to embark on her 2023 stand up tour. Despite her massive success, she feels like she’s only just getting started. We discuss her honest and frank writing style and processes – both in writing for herself whether it be stage or TV and for other characters – who come through to her via dead peoples’ spirits. We also delve into her love/hate relationship with stand-up and the prejudice and misogyny she experienced early on in her career, leading her to take a hiatus from performing. Living much of her life on screen, she explains how she feels more prepared than ever to step back on the stage and she gives us some interesting insights into her next steps and future goals.

15 mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club including Lucy’s experience with ADHD and the impact it’s had on her career, a cracking tip about how to think about jokes, and how she’s preparing for her tour

Catch up with Lucy:

Tickets for Lucy’s 2023 tour ‘The Trouble and Strife’ here:

https://lucybeaumont.co.uk/home#live

TW: @LucyABeaumont

IG: @the_one_from_hull

Everything Stu's up to:

Stu’s new Edfringe show “Spoilers” (WINNER Best Show 2023, Leicester Comedy Festival, woo!) is on sale now - find preview dates as well as podcast community links, social media handles and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel, all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmith

Or join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:

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.

433 - Jonny Pelham Jul 20, 2023

Show notes

Trigger warning: Discussion of child sexual abuse.

Jonny Pelham has become one of the most disarmingly hilarious comics in the UK by building his punchlines on a bedrock of unflinching honesty. There’s a big difference between the comedy cliche of “saying the unsayable”, and being able to find the humanity and authenticity in a subject that people don’t want to talk about.

We talk about his new Edinburgh Fringe show “Optimism Over Despair”, and he leads us through the experience at that show’s core: his reflections over using his set on Live At The Apollo to discuss the sexual abuse he experienced as a child. We also learn about his clinical “maladaptive daydreaming”, and what it’s like to always come with a trigger warning.

20mins of *double trigger-warning* extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club include Jonny on a joke that he’s always found too dark to make work, but which says something very important about his experiences; how he makes the personal political; and how to make biographical work what you want it to be in the face of algorithmic soup!

Catch up with Jonny:

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/jonny-pelham-optimism-over-despair

www.jonnypelham.com

TW/IG: @jonny_pelham

Everything Stu's up to:

Stu’s new Edfringe show “Spoilers” (WINNER Best Show 2023, Leicester Comedy Festival, woo!) is ON SALE NOW at

www.stuartgoldsmith.com/tickets

And find preview dates as well as podcast community links, social media handles and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel, all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmith

Or join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:

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.

432 - Mike Birbiglia Jul 13, 2023

Show notes

We finally got him! Mike Birbiglia arrives in Edinburgh for the first time this August with his smash hit new stand-up/story show “The Old Man And The Pool” and shows us why he's 'Broadway’s greatest comic storyteller' (Deadline).

We talk about the minutiae of his creative process, from the rhythms of his jokes and his deft use of implication, to the glue between bits, and a walkthrough of his “process guy” process, and find out why he’s only beholden to the owner of the circus…

30 unmissable mins of extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club include a fascinating study of the application of Jimmy Carr’s brain to a Mike Birbiglia bit; the codification of the language in his shows; how to chisel away the possibilities that aren’t part of this particular statue; and how to get the best feedback out of Daniel Kitson.

Catch up with Mike:

DO NOT MISS Mike’s incredible new show “The Old Man And The Pool”

Aug 22-27 Underbelly Bristo Square, Edinburgh

Sept 12 - Oct 7 at The Wyndham’s Theatre, London

www.birbigs.com

IG/TW: @birbigs

Everything Stu's up to:

Stu’s new Edfringe show “Spoilers” (WINNER Best Show 2023, Leicester Comedy Festival, woo!) is ON SALE NOW at

www.stuartgoldsmith.com/tickets

And find preview dates as well as podcast community links, social media handles and comedy clips, and Stu’s official YouTube channel, all at linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmith

Or join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:

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.

431 - Gianmarco Soresi Jun 22, 2023

Show notes

“I’m just a creative for an ad agency, and the only product is me…”

Gianmarco Soresi is a phenomenally driven, hard-working comic whose ambition and social media savvy might rankle, if he wasn’t so utterly funny. We talk about growing up a theatre kid and what he had to let go of to become a comic, his need to be witnessed, and his adoration of “mathematically beautiful” jokes, including his love for the one-liners of Anthony Jeselnik and Rodney Dangerfield.

20 mins of extra content available exclusively to the Insiders Club includes unmissable technical detail, as Gianmarco analyses the finer points of his online content strategy, and the differences between working the room and working the clip. We also talk about how he synthesises short jokes into longer routines and vice versa….

Catch up with Gianmarco:

www.gianmarcosoresi.com for all your info and a frighteningly high-definition pic of Gianmarco welcoming you to his site…

www.youtube.com/gianmarcosoresi

TW/IG: @gianmarcosoresi

Everything Stu's up to:

Or join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:

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.

"Outstanding and offered profound insight into how to survive these turbulent times."

- Deloitte

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

430 - Lee Kyle Jun 13, 2023

Show notes

One of the North East’s best-kept comedy secrets, Lee Kyle is a dimpled diamond with a twinkly warmth and bucket-loads of swearing. We talk about focusing on multiple projects and thriving in chaos - plus the downsides of ADHD, and how he wrestles with self-doubt and demotivation. We also discover the origins of NE comedy co-operative incubator “Felt Nowt”, and why the first minute of Lee’s set is purposefully a write-off.

20 mins of extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club, Stu asks the most inappropriate question he’s ever asked, and we discuss the content of Lee’s excellent special “Disco Twix” as he wrestles with gender identity with his unique gentleness. We also discover why 2002 was a great time to be a mediocre comedian, how his mentality has changed regarding sending emails to promoters, and he also sings Stu a song while Stu goes for a wee, which is the mark of a classy guest.

Catch up with Lee:

Lee Kyle’s new show “England’s Best Comedian” is on sale now for his run at the Edinburgh Fringe: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/lee-kyle-england-s-best-comedian

www.imleekyle.com

TW: @imleekyle

www.youtube.com/user/leekylespresence

Everything Stu's up to:

Or join the mailing list for unspecified freebies at:

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.

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