Balancing Acts

In this conversation I chat to comedian and presenter Tom Deacon (https://twitter.com/TomHDeacon).

Tom has been performing live stand-up for the last 12 years and has notched up 4 Edinburgh solo shows. He has presented for the likes of BBC2, BBC Radio1, The Capital FM breakfast show and YouTube football channel Copa90. Tom has also made guest appearances on BBC2’s The Rob Brydon Show, Dave’s One Night Stand and ITV2’s Fake Reaction. He is currently the host of F1 Esports Pro Series.

Tom explains how he got into performing stand up comedy and presenting and how he got signed early on his career to Avalon. He describes the struggle between transitioning from club sets to an hours show at Edinburgh Fringe. And the negative impact that bad reviews of his show had on him and his run. Tom also breaks down his writing process on stage and the pressure of performing on TV when you only have one take.

We discuss Toms desire to travel the world in order to have more to say on stage. He opens up about the challenge of having to hold back as a presenter and how it affects his creativity as a stand up. Tom also describes the experience of gigging with James Acaster early on his career and watching him die on stage twice. He recounts his time as a presenter at BBC Radio One and talks about the idea of sacrificing parts of your dreams/creativity, in order to achieve balance and happiness. Tom says it's ok to accept that the goal you set out to achieve, in hindsight, is actually not quite what you want.

Tom highlights the power of saying no to opportunities and to prioritise your own well being. How to deal with haters and social media comments. The importance of being proud and happy with your own work. What it's like interviewing huge stars and how to keep your shit together. The experience of travelling round Europe as a presenter for Copa90 and loads more!

If you like this episode please do rate and review the podcast on Apple.

Happy listening :)

Steve - @offkeysteve

#podcast #balancingacts #tomdeacon #stevewhiteley #balancingacts #comedian #apple #spotify

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In this conversation I chat to documentary maker and journalist Andrew Gold (https://twitter.com/AndrewGold_ok).

Andrew speaks 5 languages, has lived in 6 countries and produces award winning documentaries on bizarre and controversial subcultures. His documentary Exorcism The Battle For Young Minds was broadcast on BBC3 and was Sunday Times' Pick of the Week. He has also created documentaries for HBO and hosts his On the Edge with Andrew Gold Podcast, which was featured as an Apple New and Noteworthy show.

Andrew explains why his life hasn’t changed much since the pandemic. We talk about how he's come to live in 6 countries over the last 6 years and becoming fluent in 5 languages along the way. He breaks down how he became a documentary maker and figured out how to develop his own niche. How he used his time whilst working as a journalist at the Sun, to get better at being in front of camera. He describes the process of moving to Columbia and starting his learning curve making documentaries from scratch. And then moving to Buenos Aries and getting his first BBC3 documentary series commissioned and HBO buying his pilot. 

We discuss the idea of faking it till you make it and why it's important to stick to your guns. Andrew explains why it's essential to embrace fear of the unknown. He describes the crash that comes when your project is complete and the emotional and mental impact that came with making a documentary on paedophiles. He talks about how he’s grown his podcast, interviewing big name guests along the way, what that experience was like and loads more!

If you like this episode please do rate and review the podcast on Apple.

Happy listening :)

Steve - @offkeysteve

#balancingacts #podcast #stevewhiteley #andrewgold #spotify #apple

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In this conversation I chat to writer, director and author Nat Luurtsema (https://twitter.com/natluurtsema).

Nat has written for Mock The Week (BBC), 8 Out Of Ten Cats (Channel 4) and with her sketch group Jigsaw, Nat has had two Radio 4 series, and three sell-out Edinburgh runs. Her adult non-fiction title Cuckoo in the Nest was a Sunday Express Book Of The Year. Girl Out of Water, Nat’s debut children’s book was longlisted for the Waterstones' Children’s Book of the Year.

Nat describes how she transitioned from radio presenting to performing stand up and sketch to then writing/directing films and becoming an author. She explains why she stopped acting and performing stand up to focus on her writing/directing career. Nat also breaks down how she took a DIY approach to learning the craft of filmmaking.

She describes how she would often manifest having great gigs and how she has incorporated manifestation on a regular basis into her filmmaking career. She explains why she never googled herself or her reviews as a stand up and now also as a filmmaker and why she does so many creative endeavours. We discuss the importance of not being self-deprecating and being kind and empathetic towards yourself.

Nat describes how she met her film producers, she talks about the importance of having a solid working relationship with your agent and loads more!

If you like this episode please do rate and review the podcast on Apple.

Happy listening :)

Steve - @offkeysteve

#balancingacts #natluurtsema #podcast #apple #spotify #filmmaker #positivethink #manifesting #stevewhiteley

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/balancing-acts.

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In this conversation I chat to comedian and writer Nathan Caton (https://twitter.com/NathanCaton)

Nathan began performing stand up comedy at the age of 19 and since then he has been on Live at the Apollo, Mock The Week, Don’t Hate The Playaz, Comedy Gala, Russell Howard’s Good News and his own series Gran Jury. He also wrote and performed in his BBC Radio 4 sitcom, Can’t Tell Nathan Caton Nothing and starred in a pilot for Paramount Comedy (now Comedy Central) entitled The Nathan Caton Show. He has also written for the children's series Rastamouse and has appeared several times on the BBC Premier League Show as well as his ever-growing podcast, Nathan Caton’s Football Forum

We kick things off talking about the challenge of switching off and why Nathan finds it hard to take time out from his career. He explains his love hate relationship with social media. Why he felt getting his Comedy Central TV pilot came too early and why he didn’t let it affect him when it didn’t get a series commission. Nathan describes how early on in his stand up career, he tried to balance gigging and getting up for an early morning lecture; while studying architecture and then whilst juggling part time work at Heathrow airport. He breakdown his first Edinburgh Fringe experience and describes life on the road as a touring comedian.

We discuss what qualities you need to commit to being a stand up comedian and Nathan explains how his family have instilled a strong work ethic in him. He breaks down the benefit of collaborating with writers who come from a different perspective and point of view and emphasises the importance in staying present to develop new material. We discuss how Nathan switches off from stand up through weight lifting, swimming and doing HIIT work outs and loads more!

If you like this episode please do rate and review the podcast on Apple.

Happy listening :)

Steve - @offkeysteve

#balancingacts #comedian #podcast #apple #spotify #nathancaton #stevewhiteley

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In this conversation I chat to author/playwright/screenwriter Gytha Lodge (https://twitter.com/thegyth).

Gytha set up her own theatre company after graduating from Cambridge with a degree in English and began to tour productions. Her one-act play Otherwise won a Fringe award in 2010 for best new play. After beginning the UEA Creative Writing MA in 2011, Gytha began writing for screen and in prose. She was shortlisted for the Yeovil Literary Prize and the Arts' Council England fiction awards, and developed a large online following for her young adult and children's writing, culminating in close to two million reads on platform Wattpad. Her first novel She Lies in Wait was published in March 2019, it is a Sunday Times Top 10 bestseller, and was a Richard and Judy Book Club pick. She is signed with Penguin Random House worldwide for the first three books in her crime series featuring DCI Jonah Sheens. Her third book in the trilogy 'Lie Beside Me', is released in February 2021.

Gytha kicks things off talking about what impact the clothes we wear, whilst working from home have on our productivity and focus. She breaks down how she balances single parenting while writing during lockdown. We discuss the importance of routine and having a space dedicated to your writing and Gytha advises to let yourself love the process of writing.

She shares her experience of studying English at Cambridge University and explains why after graduating she set up a theatre company, which then went on to win an Edinburgh Fringe Award. And we discuss the importance of knowing how to pitch. Gytha breaks down how she juggled doing an MA in creative writing, being a single parent and running a business at the same time. She describes how she built an online following for her writing on Wattpad and gained over 1.8 million reads, whilst waiting to hear back from publishers on her first novel.

And how it took Gytha till her seventh novel to get a three book publishing deal with Penguin, which then enabled her to quit her job and write full time. She emphasises the importance of empathy and not basing your self esteem on your career and gives her one tip to aspiring authors and writers. Gytha also shares her love for gaming, rock climbing, rowing and loads more!

If you like this episode please do rate and review the podcast on Apple.

Happy listening :)

Steve - @offkeysteve

#balancingacts #podcast #apple #spotify #gythalodge #stevewhiteley #writer

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/balancing-acts.

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In this conversation I chat to writer/director/performer/producer, Heydon Prowse (https://www.twitter.com/HeydonProwse).

Heydon began his career creating hidden camera political stunts with the viral creative agency Don't Panic. Many of these videos

gained international press coverage. This led to the BBC3 show 'The Revolution Will Be Televised,' which Heydon co-wrote and co-starred in with Jolyion Rubenstein. The show went on to win a BAFTA, a Rose d’Or and a Broadcast Award over three seasons. Other TV shows include Democracy Dealers on BBC3, Revolting on BBC2 and The Ministry of Justice on Channel 4. As well as directing documentaries for the likes of Vice and The Guardian, Heydon also hosted and wrote the BBC2 documentary called The Town That Took on The Taxman. He most recently created the Spotify podcast series Sex, Lies & DM Slides, featuring Gizzi Erskine and Sydney Lima.

Heydon breaks down how he got into making hidden camera political stunts on YouTube with Don’t Panic. He describes what it was like outing MPs, who lost their jobs as a result of his stunts and the anxiety that came with dealing with the online aftermath. Heydon talks about the anxiety that came with being behind illegal stunts that could have imprisoned him and the crash that comes after filming such highly adrenalized productions.

He explains why he felt it was unwise to loose skills in producing and directing, as he became more front of camera talent. We talk about dealing with imposters syndrome and this idea of being an introverted performer. We discuss how social media has made comedy more of level but the curse that also comes democratising content. Heydon describes the struggles of pitching to commissioners and how The Revolution Will Be Televised got made. Why he has decided to focus on creating mainstream entertainment content and how the Spotify series 'Sex Lies and DM slides' came about.

Heydon explains the strength in being part of a network and the opportunities that arise as a result, why it’s not necessary to have an agent anymore and why creating content is only 10% of what leads to eventual success. He reveals what strategies he used to create viral videos and why he wears so many creative hats. We talk about this idea of constructive procrastination, the challenge with writing scripts on spec, the importance in toughening up as an artist and loads more!

If you like this episode please do rate and review the podcast on Apple.

Happy listening :)

Steve - @offkeysteve

#podcast #balancingacts #heydonprowse #stevewhiteley #comedy #apple #spotify

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In this conversation I chat to the founder of Hoopla, Steve Roe (https://www.hooplaimpro.com).

Steve co-founded Hoopla in 2006 with his friend Edgar Fernando and they started running improv classes and courses.

Hoopla are the founders of the UK’s 1st improv comedy club. Recommended by The Guardian, The Independent, Time Out, The Evening Standard, The Daily Telegraph and more. Prior to covid, their theatre had shows performing 7 nights a week featuring people who have trained with Hoopla. Hoopla also provide corporate training for clients including Google, Facebook, Accenture, Apple, London Business School, Comedy Central and more.

We kick things off talking about Steve's new exercise regime after having covid. He explains how he co-founded Hoopla and eventually walked out of his full-time job in TV, to commit to growing it as a company. Steve warns why not to full into the trap of being the impoverished artist and we agree how temping can be a meditative process. Steve also breaks down the pros and cons of growing a company organically and not taking investment.

He talks about the struggle of transitioning from being a performer to having to take a step back to run the business. Steve explains his circle decision making process, which helps him decide which projects to work on. He emphasises the importance of focussing on the audience and what’s fun or you, rather than being worried about the competition. Steve talks through how and why Hoopla opened their own improv venue. What to do when you get to the end of your 5 year plan. Why he took a management course with Open University and what the key takeaways he learned from it were. How he got better at delegating. He breaks down the 5 why’s you need to ask yourself before launching something new.

Steve also describes the healthy state of the UK improv scene pre-covid and believes it is on track to compete with the US. He explains why, he does the Alexander technique, why he did hypnotherapy during covid, his annual birthday ritual, why he loves going on solo walks and loads more!

If you like this episode please do rate and review the podcast on Apple.

Happy listening :)

Steve - @offkeysteve

#podcast #steveroe #stevewhiteley #balancingacts #comedy #improv #hoopla #apple #spotify

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In this conversation I chat to writer/director/improviser Jacob Reed (http://jacobreed.net).

Jacob has directed for Jimmy Kimmel Live, Comedy Central, Funny or Die, Nickelodeon and BuzzFeed. Over the past decade Jacob has also worked as a teacher and performer at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. His two man improv group Tremendosaur has had multiple show runs at the UCB and been featured in The Hollywood Reporter, New York Magazine and The Wall Street Journal. As a creative director for BuzzFeed, Jacobs videos received hundreds of millions of views. Jacob was also the co-host of the Before You Were Funny Podcast.

Jacob kick things off describing what life is like as a new Dad during a pandemic and how not having free time is keeping him focussed.

How it feels having such a long break from performing improv and why Jacob is trying to be less goal driven and strategic in his approach to his art. He breaks down how his improv experience has informed his style of directing and helped him develop a more collaborative approach. We talk about his improvised short film that recently got accepted into Raindance.

Jacob describes time working as BuzzFeed's creative director, overseeing 18,000 pieces of content and how he tried to balance that with his own projects. He explains the 50/50 formula when crewing up on new shoots and the challenge with being a creative, writing a script and then handing it over to a director. Jacob talks about why he regrets following peoples expectations of what they perceive him to be in the entertainment industry and explains why not to put yourself in a box.

He also breaks down what it was like directing Jimmy Kimmel live and how he’d given up on having a career as a director, before he got the call about the job. He also describes the working process on the show, what it's like working in Hollywood, why he loves teaching improv & loads more!

If you like this episode please do rate and review the podcast on Apple.

Happy listening :)

Steve - @offkeysteve

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/balancing-acts.

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In this conversation I chat to comedian and rapper Joe Jacobs (https://www.instagram.com/jesterjacobs).

Joe Jacobs is a comedian, rapper and writer. He has shared bills with acts including Bill Burr and Stewart Lee. He has been seen/heard on Channel 4, BBC Radio 4, BBC 6 Music, Radio 1XTRA and gained millions of views online. In addition to stand up, as rapper Jester Jacobs, he’s put out music since his debut Mental Disorder in 2008. Joe has also performed two critically acclaimed solo shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

We kick things off talking about our shared dislike for hebrew school. Joe explains why it's important to keep perspective during these pandemic times. He describes the struggle of writing new material when you don’t have the deadline of performing at gigs. Joe breaks down his approach to creativity and the importance of having structure and routine. He explains why he likes writing new material before a gig/set and how he has dealt with the anxiety and adrenaline that comes with performing.

Joe Jacobs on making his BBC Radio 4 documentary 'Hip-hop's Laughing Stock' and the importance of structure and routine. We talk about Joe's recent documentary 'Hip-hop's Laughing Stock' and how he it got commissioned on BBC Radio 4. He talks about the difficulty with feeling joyful but not looking joyful or happy and how it’s cost him getting promoted at work We exchange stories of growing up in the 'burbs' and getting jacked, how smoking weed in our teenage years affected us and Joe describes his mindfulness practice and loads more!

If you like this episode please do rate and review the podcast on Apple.

Happy listening :)

Steve - @offkeysteve

#podcast #balancingacts #joejacobs #stevewhiteley #rap #comedy #spotify #apple

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/balancing-acts.

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In this conversation I chat to comedian Tom Houghton (https://www.instagram.com/honourabletom).

Tom has shared line-ups with the likes of Michael McIntyre, John Bishop, Jason Manford and Jack Whitehall and has supported Daniel Sloss, Justin Moorhouse and more recently Milton Jones on tour. Tom has performed 3 critically acclaimed solo Edinburgh Fringe shows and a sold out run at London’s Soho Theatre.

Previously with The Noise Next Door he has appeared on BBC1, BBC3, ITV3, Channel 4 and has featured in‘The Jim Jeffries Show’ for Comedy Central and most recently filmed ‘Roast Battle’ also for Comedy Central.

This was great chat, we covered lots of ground. Tom talks me through his work out regime during lockdown, the experience of supporting Milton Jones on tour and breaks down his several year comedy career plan. He also describes the challenging transition of leaving his improv group 'The Noise Next Door' to pursue a career as a solo stand up comedian. Tom explains the benefits of performing Improv for 10 years, the pros and cons to touring solo and how it led to panic attacks. And Tom also defines the strategies he used to get himself into a healthier place mentally and emotionally.

We talk about the importance of having hobbies that have nothing to do with work, with no outcome and how Tom learned to value life experiences over his career. Tom also describes his relationship with his military Dad and what it was like living in the Tower of London!

He explains why the best acts don't feel they are competing against each other and why you shouldn’t do it, he details his experiences of creating online comedy content and loads more!

If you like this episode please do rate and review the podcast on Apple.

Happy listening :)

Steve - @offkeysteve

#comedy #podcast #tomhoughton #stevewhiteley #apple #spotify

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/balancing-acts.

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