The Comedy Festival is right around the corner, so to get us all in the mood, the first episode of the new season has the 2025 Comedy Gala host Hayley Sproull getting insights and advice from former hosts, Pax Assadi and Rhys Mathewson. 

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In this special one-off bonus episode, 2023 winner Abby Howells hands over the yellow towel to 2024 winner, Lana Walters. They discuss their experiences winning and the aftermath, their writing and standup processes, how Abby has found winning the award, what Lana has found being a new mum and a standup, and how still needs to change for women in comedy. 

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2021 Billy T winner Brynley Stent trades jumbo-sized towel tips with this year's winner Abby Howells. The comedic champs talk about Howells' award-winning show, her being open on stage about being on the autism spectrum, and Stent embracing her frigid reputation.

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Billy T' Billy has made it to the last ten years of New Zealand comedy. Taking us on today's tour are scene standouts Joseph Moore and James Roque.

Then, host Rhys Mathewson talks to Urzila Carlson, who in just over a decade has risen to be a star in both Aotearoa and Australia.

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Standup stalwarts Irene Pink, Dai Henwood, and Justine Smith take Rhys Mathewson through what was good and bad about comedy twenty years ago and what has changed for the better. Hint: It's got way more people performing that aren't straight dudes.

On the international side, Rhys Darby explains how encouragement from British performers convinced him to spread his wings and pursue his comedic craft outside of our island nation

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Veteran comedians Jeremy Corbett, Michele A'Court take host Rhys Mathewson through the beginning of Aotearoa's standup scene, and writer and co-founder of the NZ International Comedy Festival and The Classic Comedy Club Paul Horan explains how overseas comics like Bill Bailey and Simon Pegg were enticed to our shores.

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2023 Billy T nominee Maria Williams is joined by 2012 Billy T winner - and her brother - Guy Wiliams to discuss their family's comedy roots, mental health and politics in comedy, the highs and lows of musical theatre, and Guy's advice Maria isn't in. 

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2023 Billy T nominee Janaye Henry is joined by 2021 Fred winner Eli Matthewson to discuss their writing, rehearsing and standup styles, performing for queer audiences, talking about exes and partners in their sets, and competing against friends for awards. 

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2023 Billy T nominee Jack Ansett is joined by 1998 Billy T winner Jonny Brugh to discuss New Zealand comedy in the 90s, sketch versus standup, if awards are important, TikTok, and Jonny's experiences on the set of Thor. 

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2023 Billy T nominee Gabby Anderson is joined by 2019 Fred Award winner James Nokise to discuss the Wellington comedy scene, their religious backgrounds, Gabby's other career as a teacher - and the gig that's haunted James for a decade. 

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