Balancing Acts

In this conversation I chat to Daisy Squires, Lou Marillier and Sophia Seymour, the co-directors of the Guardian produced documentary 'Teranga' (https://www.terangathedocumentary.com).

Teranga documents an Afrobeats migrant-run nightclub in Naples offering a safe space for the city’s asylum seekers. The film follows Fata and Yankuba, who fled dictatorship in Gambia, only to find themselves living in a politicised limbo, as they wait for a response to their asylum requests.

The three film makers explain how they met, why they wanted to tell this story and how they struck up a friendship with Fata and Yankuba and immersed themselves in their lives.

With the funds raised from the film, Daisy, Lou and Sophia hope to support Fata and Yankuba in their respective aspirations.

For further information on how you can help please go to: https://www.terangathedocumentary.com/get-involved.

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

Happy listening :)

Steve - @offkeysteve

#podcast #balancingacts #podcast #apple #spotify #teranga #femalefilmmakers #stevewhiteley

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In this conversation I chat to actor and comedian Rose Holt (https://twitter.com/RosieisaHolt).

Rosie's recent hilarious and satirical videos on Twitter have gone viral. Her performances are so good, that same people think her character is a real person. Rosie explains why she decided to quit performing stand up comedy and how lockdown led her to start creating videos.

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

Happy listening :)

Steve - @offkeysteve

#rosieholt #stevewhiteley #apple #spotify #comedy #podcast #balancingacts

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In this conversation I chat to actor and comedian Will Robbins (https://www.instagram.com/willyrobbins).

Will reached the final of the Brighton Komedia new comedian of 2020 competition. He recently starred in Comedy Centra's 'Transaction' and writes and acts in sketches on Instagram with his comedy partner in LOL's, Ben Cohen. 

Will kicks things off describing his creative partnership with Ben and how they started creating sketches together. We talk about the advantage of making content with a friend. Will describes how an hallucinogenic trip changed his view and approach on the world. We discuss our former life working in the music industry. How Will got into stand up and the struggles that comes with the early days of gigging on the open mic circuit.

Will shares the experience of acting in Comedy Central's 'Transaction' and the challenges that come with not being able to improvise. He breaks down his daily 30/30/30 ritual of journalling, stretching and meditating and explains the positive impact it’s had on him since incorporating it as part of his routine. We discuss the benefits of self-discipline, share our love for silly comedy and Will explains how it's influenced the sketches he creates.

We talk about Will's first job as a runner at BBC entertainment commissioning department, which made live at the Apollo and describes his experience of being a researcher on Russell Howards Good News. Will explains the satisfaction that comes with seeing through and finishing a creative project, but the fear that also comes with it. He breaks down his sketch writing process, why dialogue on IG doesn’t work and loads more!

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

Happy listening :)

Steve - @offkeysteve

#apple #spotify #comedy #podcast #balancingacts #stevewhiteley #willrobbins

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

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In this conversation I chat to comedian Joe Hobbs (https://www.joehobbs.co.uk).

Joe has been nominated for the BBC New Comedy Award in both 2018 & 2019. He was listed on the BBC's top jokes of the Fringe 2019 and was the Amused Moose National New Comic Award Breakthrough Comedian Winner 2018.

We kick things off sharing our hoarding tendencies and discuss why clear outs are so cleansing. Joe tells his journey from growing up on a council estate in Northampton, to becoming a stand up comedian in London. He also describes his time living in South Korea for two years and the liberating feeling of starting again, where nobody knows who you are.

Joe explains his strategy of flirting with men who want to pick fights with him, due to his 6ft 8 stature. We share what’s the one thing we’d both do if we were kids again. Joe breaks down his struggles with being ADHD, up until he was diagnosed at the age of 28. The positive impact that meditation and taking medication has had on him. We talk about why ADHD is not treated as a serious disorder, Joe’s struggle with needing time away from projects and how the only consistency in his life, is his need for change. And how being on medication affects Joe when he’s on stage. He also explains how he has a more healthy relationship with his standup comedy career, why he feels less inclined to experiment and take risks on stage and loads more!

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

Happy listening :)

Steve - @offkeysteve

#apple #spotify #comedy #podcast #balancingacts #stevewhiteley #joehobbs #adhd

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

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In this conversation I chat to comedian Esther Manito (https://www.esthermanito.co.uk).

Esther is the first female comedian to perform at Dubai Opera House, she's an Arab woman of the Year nominee, an Asian Woman of the Year Finalist, a Funny Women Regional Finalist and a So You Think You’re Funny Finalist.

Esther and I describe the most random gigs we have performed at, she talks about her Edinburgh Fringe experience and what it was like, to be the first female to perform at the Dubai Opera House. We also debate whether or not it's acceptable to promote and show off about your career wins.

Esther describes how becoming a stand up comedian has affected her enjoyment of watching stand up on TV. We talk about our dislike for performing in stand up competitions and the trauma of dying on stage in front of your peers. Esther explains how she got into stand up comedy, whilst trying to balance being a Mother of 2 on maternity leave. How she attended a stand up comedy course and initially hid it from her husband, friends and family. And dealing with the judgement of her friends and family once they found out what she’s doing.

We also talk about how the pandemic has affected her comedy career. Esthers love for true crime podcasts, cycling, walking and loads more! 

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

Happy listening :)

Steve - @offkeysteve

#apple #spotify #comedy #podcast #balancingacts #stevewhiteley #esthermanito

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

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In this conversation I chat to comedian, writer, director and co-founder of Angel Comedy, Barry Ferns (https://barryferns.com).

Barry has as written for the BBC, Channel 4 and Radio 4. His short films have been selected for The LA Comedy Film festival, Raindance and North by Northwest and he has won the Malcom Hardee Award for Comedy, as well as the Mervyn Stutter Spirit of the Fringe award. And in addition, Barry has been nominated as one of the best MC’s in the UK.

We kick things off, talking about the need to eat healthily, to feel good and how Barry needs a creative outlet everyday, to make him feel balanced and normal. We discuss Barry’s creative projects and the time management involved in running them alongside Angel Comedy.

Barry describes how he started stand up as a 17 year old and then took a 10 year sabbatical to write and perform in sketch comedy, with Chris Head. He explains that part of the reason he created Angel Comedy, was because he felt people wouldn’t want to hire him, so he built his own space where he could do what he liked; whilst also offering stage time to fellow comedians.

We discuss what society deems as being creative and the idea of glorifying the tortured artist. The tension between being creative and wanting to be seen to be creative on social media. Barry explains that we’re not lazy at the things we enjoy and are good at, where as we’re lazy at the things we don’t enjoy. We also talk about whether the multi hyphenate approach is best, or just to focus on getting better at one thing at a time. Barry also emphasises the importance of learning how to network.

We share our experiences of attending US short film festivals and Barry describes how friends and family crowd funded to cover his flight and accommodation to attend the LA Comedy Film Festival. He talks about the struggle of selling and putting your art out there.

Barry also describes the experience of attending a zen dojo and vipassana 10 day meditation retreats and a 2 month long meditation retreat, in the middle of the jungle in Burma. He opens up about his struggles with depression, explains the importance of keystone habits, we discuss psychedelics and loads more!

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

Happy listening :)

Steve - @offkeysteve

#apple #spotify #comedy #podcast #balancingacts #stevewhiteley #barryferns

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

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In this conversation I chat to screenwriter Mark Boutros (https://www.mark-boutros.com).

Mark co-wrote the one-off comedy drama about Muhammad Ali, The Greatest Of All Time, which was broadcast on Sky Arts as part of their Emmy nominated ‘Urban Myths’ season. He has had script commissions from numerous established TV production companies and his original sitcom Broken Beth was a silver award winner at the 2016 PAGE International Screenwriting Awards in the TV Comedy Pilot category. He has recently developed a new live action series idea with CBBC, and written on Romesh Ranganathan’s The Reluctant Landlord Series 2 for Sky and he is currently developing a pilot for Studio 71. He has also worked as a writer, producer and script editor in comedy entertainment on shows such as 8 Out Of 10 Cats and Through The Keyhole.

We kick things off talking about the pressure of feeling like you have to be productive during lockdown. Mark describes his career and how he went from being an edit producer to a scripted TV writer. And how he decided to drop the back up plan and do an MA in creative writing. He says his transition from working in TV to becoming a proper writer started in 2004 and only just finished and that he never thought it would take this long. 

Mark describes the experience of writing on Romesh Ranganathan’s The Reluctant Landlord and dealing with imposter syndrome and how he got past it. And he talks about the pressure of having to say something and contributing in a writers room. Mark also explains how as soon as you get something you want, that’s when the pressure kicks in.

Mark talks about his process when writing his own projects and how the story always starts with developing characters. He breaks down his daily routine and describes the questionnaire he creates for all his characters. Mark explains that he usually writes what he cares about at that time and why he loves researching. We discuss why Mark doesn’t like to watch a TV show that everyone is talking about and why he prefers watching documentaries over sitcoms

Mark says he prefers writing solely rather than co-writing with someone else and describes the varying ways he works when collaborating with stand up comedians. He describes how doing the artists way has helped him develop his writing and loads more!

Mark's book ’The Craft Of Character' is out now on Amazon.

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

Happy listening :)

Steve - @offkeysteve

#apple #spotify #comedy #podcast #balancingacts #stevewhiteley #markboutros #writing

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

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In this conversation I chat to radio presenter and DJ, AJ King (https://www.instagram.com/kingajking).

AJ was the winner of the Kiss 100 'Chosen One' competition and has gone on to have an illustrious career both as a radio and TV presenter. And as a DJ he has played at some of the biggest and best clubs across the globe. AJ is also an ambassador for the Prince's Trust and works with numerous other charities.

We kick things off talking about how we met and describe the experience of co-presenting a radio show together and what we learned in the process. AJ explains how he went from working at Barclays Bank, to in 2011 winning the the Kiss 100 'Chosen One' competition. And what was originally a 3 month contract has turned into quite the journey. He breaks down his experience of presenting at Kiss, including the breakfast show and the challenges of taking the spot of an established DJ he looked up to. AJ also talks about the importance lesson of observing that the most successful DJ’s at Kiss were usually the nicest and most humble.

We talk about the importance of being authentic and not being afraid to be yourself. AJ describes the time he taught Prince Charles and Camilla how to scratch to ‘Single Ladies’, which resulted in him becoming an ambassador for the Princes Trust. How he balances being a DJ, presenter, working with charities and being a Dad. And how being a Dad has made AJ more driven, disciplined and commercially savvy.

AJ also explains his philosophy/motto of ‘you are your money’ and the idea of banking on yourself. He describes the tell tale signs of when he knows that his mental health is suffering. Why boxing is such a release for AJ and has protected his mental health and we share our love for boxing training.

Why everything is about timing and the importance of what type of practice you do. And why AJ believes that everyone knows what they want to do, it's just that their belief system or circumstances prevent them from following through on it. He breaks down how he entered his latest creative journey into accidentally becoming an actor and loads more!

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

Happy listening :)

Steve - @offkeysteve

#apple #spotify #comedy #podcast #balancingacts #stevewhiteley #AJKing #kiss100

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

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In this conversation I chat to YouTube star Josh Pieters (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpE5VksCvp6lk35MJYlRs5Q).

Josh runs his YouTube channel with Archie Manners, together they have created elaborate stunts, social experiments and pranked the likes of Katie Hopkins and Tiger Kings Carole Baskin. Their channel has amassed over 141 million views and 1.43 million subscribers.

We kick things off talking about his former life as a semi professional cricket player and how falling ill to glandular fever, forced Josh to pivot and become a Youtuber. Josh describes what he calls his YouTube boyband years, making videos with best friend Caspar Lee, before moving onto the videos that he's known for today. 

Josh explains that for him, it's impossible to achieve creativity if you're just doing it on your own and how important it is to have someone to collaborate and disagree with. Josh breaks down his working dynamic with Archie, a magician by trade, and how he taught Josh the importance of making people think one thing, when something else is happening. And how their working relationship evolved into a partnership. And he describes it as a symbiotic relationship where they couldn't do what they do, without the other. 

Josh describes their brainstorming sessions for coming up with new ideas. How they begin with asking the question whether something is possible and running with that, such as 'is it possible to sell microwave meals on deliveroo' to 'can we play on Katie Hopkins ego to fly her over to Prague for a fake award'.

Josh explains the safety and legal side of things and also how brands sponsor the videos to cover the cost of the production. He describes the range of emotions he felt during the Katie Hopkins prank and the pressure of funding such an expensive production/video. He talks about the importance of punching up and to have a reason for what you're doing. Josh also describes the Ed Sheeran prank, the Carole Baskin and the Tom Holland interview. 

We chat about how Josh wishes he wasn't so affected by what views he gets on a video, his love for exercise, how important it is for mental health and loads more!

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

Happy listening :)

Steve - @offkeysteve

#apple #spotify #comedy #podcast #balancingacts #stevewhiteley #joshpieters #youtuber

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

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

In this conversation I chat to Jack Howard, writer/director and actor (https://www.youtube.com/user/JackHoward).

Jack has created numerous comedy sketches and short films for his YouTube channels, which have accumulated over 80 million views. He has also created two series for BBC iPlayer; and created, written, directed and starred in two seasons of sitcom 'Jack & Dean of All Trades’ co-starring the very talented Jessica Hynes. As an actor Jack has starred in 'Bulletproof' for Sky and appeared in a guest role in 'Drunk History’ for Comedy Central. In 2018, Jack was selected to be part of the Sundance New Voices Lab and is now also a regular guest on Mark Kermode’s podcast ‘Kermode on Film’.

We kick things off with Jack describing his positive lockdown experience and how he feels he now knows himself better. He explains how the constraints of lockdown and have allowed him to be creative and get back to basics, in terms of making Youtube videos again.

We talk about how therapy have helped Jack get through periods of depression. We also discuss the struggle with feeling guilty for switching off and relaxing during the day in lockdown.

Jack describes the challenges of getting motivated to get out of bed, when you're suffering from depression and are a freelancer. And how he's now found routines that work for him. We also talk how questioning how he is perceived in his career, has helped Jack inform his decisions, such as leaving presenting his show on BBC radio one, in order to pursue his goal as a director.

We discuss the transition from writing/directing short form to long form content and why creating online content is such a great training ground. The idea of not waiting for permission to become a writer or director and just to go out and create something. Jack also talks about his relationship with his cinematographer Ciaran O'Brien and breaks down his dynamic and working relationship with comedy partner Dean.

He explains why he prefers collaborating with other people and enjoys directing more than writing the writing process.

Jack also describes the experience of directing experienced actors such as Jessica Hynes on Jack and Dean of All Trades. And how Jack dealt with questions over the script from Jess and what a great learning curve it was. He explains that having his ideas challenged, elevated the dialogue and script.

We talk about the conflict of wanting to relax and butting heads with being proactive. Jack calls himself a lazy person who forces himself to do stuff. Jacks also describes the fear of not progressing in his career and trying to come to terms with the snakes and ladders aspect of the entertainment industry. We cover the responsibility of having an online audience and how its affected Jack's mental health. We also discuss our shared love for solo cinema trips, running without listening to music, Jack's love for ASMR and loads more!

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

Happy listening :)

Steve - @offkeysteve

#apple #spotify #comedy #podcast #balancingacts #stevewhiteley #jackhoward #youtube #filmmaker

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

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