In this podcast I ask the big questions, What is comedy? Who is it, and why is it? To help me I’ve enlisted the help of comedians, performers, promoters, and fans like myself, to discuss what comedy means to them, and to sum all their experience up in a nutshell. Please remember to like, subscribe, rate, review and share. Thank you! For information about me and the more than 1600 comedians I’ve seen live over the last 40+ years, as well as links to upcoming live comedy shows and more, visit my website www.thecomedynerd.com
Episodes
Monday Aug 21, 2023
Monday Aug 21, 2023
In this episode I spoke with stand-up comedian Hubert Mayr who talked about poor apartment choices, defying the Gong show, the Anglo-German linguistic conundrum and his dark materials.
I've seen Hubert perform a number of times over the last few years online and in person and each time he has been uniquely hilarious. He has a very relaxed style and dark humour which I enjoy enormously, and despite his often bleak material, he is a lot of fun to be around.
Hubert Mayr: Mr. UniWorse At Edinburgh Fringe
Instagram @HubsMayr
Twitter @HubsMayr
The Comedy Nerd Instagram @The ComedyNerd
Comedy in a Nutshell Instagram @ComedyInANutshell
Monday Aug 14, 2023
Monday Aug 14, 2023
In this episode I spoke with stand-up comedian Joshua Bethania who talked about getting personal, building up to an hour and not bringing the energy.
I've seen Joshua perform a couple of times on mixed bills and he has a subdued demeanour putting all the emphasis on his material, which is delivered in as deadpan a way as you can get. For this, he won the 2022 So You Think You're Funny? competition.
Instagram @JoshuaBethania_comedy
Twitter @JoshuaBethania
The Comedy Nerd Instagram @The ComedyNerd
Comedy in a Nutshell Instagram @ComedyInANutshell
Monday Aug 07, 2023
Monday Aug 07, 2023
In this episode I spoke with stand-up comedian Bronwyn Sweeney who talked about Funny Women, selling oneself and performing for your idol.
The now London-based comedian is a citizen of the World, with her comedy informed by an international upbringing and a career in advertising. With a Funny Women final under her belt, her debut hour at this year's Edinburgh Fringe promises to be a smash with Bronwyn being consistently charismatic, stylish, sassy and very funny.
Instagram @bron_com
Twitter @TheBron_Com
The Comedy Nerd Instagram @The ComedyNerd
Comedy in a Nutshell Instagram @ComedyInANutshell
Monday Jul 31, 2023
Monday Jul 31, 2023
In this episode I spoke with stand-up comedian Dave Chawner who talked about nurturing gratitude, the best Easter ever and Hell on toast.
It's difficult to say enough about Dave Chawner, who is not only an excellent stand-up comedian but also a passionate mental health campaigner, whose dedication to the subject has resulted in a TED talk, an award-winning show and a best-selling book.
I approached Dave after seeing his 2022 show "Underdog" at the Brighton Fringe, and was delighted to find him as excitable to talk with as he is performing on stage. He's a wonderful comic and a generous human being.
Twitter @DaveChawner
The Comedy Nerd Instagram @The ComedyNerd
Comedy in a Nutshell Instagram @ComedyInANutshell
Monday Jul 24, 2023
Monday Jul 24, 2023
In this episode I spoke with sketch and character comedian Kathy Maniura who talked about solo not solo, committing to the bit and the secret.
Kathy is a successful performer as half of sketch duo Horseplay and an unsurprising award winner. When I first saw Kathy perform material from her upcoming Edinburgh solo debut I'll admit I was a little taken aback by her alternative take on character comedy, but Kathy inhabits her subjects with wry observation and utter conviction. Her abstract approach to sending up everyday objects is novel and the the way she brings "friendly absurdity" to the mundane and seriousness to the ridiculous is entirely hilarious.
Instagram @KathyKathymm
Twitter @Kathyaqm
The Comedy Nerd Instagram @The ComedyNerd
Comedy in a Nutshell Instagram @ComedyInANutshell
Monday Jul 17, 2023
Monday Jul 17, 2023
In this episode I spoke with stand-up comedian Ian Smith who talked about getting used to excitement, writing to the deadline and caring too much.
I've seen Ian perform a number of times in mixed bills - one of the best openers I've seen - and also in previews for his 2022 and 2023 Edinburgh shows. He has a wonderful matter-of-fact style, and uses it to explore themes and emotions to excellent effect. As a story-teller he is enthralling and as a comedian he is hilarious.
Instagram @IanSmithComedy
Twitter @IanSmithComedy
The Comedy Nerd Instagram @The ComedyNerd
Comedy in a Nutshell Instagram @ComedyInANutshell
Monday Jul 10, 2023
Monday Jul 10, 2023
In this episode I spoke with stand-up comedian Philipp Kostelecky who talked about stomach block, different kinds of laughter and not being enough of a lizard.
I first saw Philipp in September 2022 on a mixed bill in West London, although I'd been aware of the name for a few years. In his short time on stage he struck me as an energetic performer with a zeal for his craft. I recently saw his 2023 hour "Daddy's Home" at a work in progress performance for his Edinburgh Festival Fringe run and was not disappointed by the breadth both in his material and his performance.
Still in his 20s but with a varied cultural and vocational background, he has more than enough to call on for material, and traverses the comedy spectrum from socio-political satire to physical buffoonery, with laughs at every turn.
Instagram @philcomedy
Twitter @CheeseCakePCK
The Comedy Nerd Instagram @The ComedyNerd
Comedy in a Nutshell Instagram @ComedyInANutshell
Monday Jul 03, 2023
Monday Jul 03, 2023
In this episode I spoke with stand-up and sketch comedian Claire Haus, who talked about not opening a dog shelter, finding the middle ground and rambling as a German.
Claire was described by Time Out London as "one of the smartest, funniest sketch comedians" recommending her as one of four comedians to watch in 2022, and her online videos have attracted millions of views.
In the last few years I've seen Claire perform live and online, and she's been a delight. Her character comedy videos are always very funny and she says the word "mindfulness" in as funny a way as I'll probably ever hear, but I also enjoy seeing Claire performing straight stand-up, because she radiates a warmth and a joy in the performance that is as endearing as some of her characters are disturbing.
Instagram @clairehauscomedy
Twitter @clairehauslives
The Comedy Nerd Instagram @The ComedyNerd
Comedy in a Nutshell Instagram @ComedyInANutshell