Mental As Anyone

Interview with Bonnie Davies, who is a Perth comedian and also has an alter-ego named Famous Sharron. We discuss: Bonnie’s Laugh Or Your Money Back show in 2011’s MICF (and only one person asking for their money back), the next show I’m High On Life, What Are You On?, growing up with parents who were youth workers, memories of people from childhood, the Open Door policy at the Davies home, people experiencing the same things over and over (eg. Not being accepted, being neglected, not allowed to be themselves, sex work and drugs), people finding that drug dealers become friends and family, the table top analogy and Dad’s emotional bank balance analogy, old habits dying hard, the importance of perseverance, a house full of love, Mum being an Environmental Warrior and Dad writing his memoirs, Dad’s observation of a community disconnect over the years, Bonnie’s involvement in community organisations, Shopkeeper Kindness, falling into the Arts, work experience at Awesome Arts, early job offers, Fellowship in the UK and figuring herself out, being back in Perth and organising comedians, the bet that started it all, Raw Comedy, kids and school pressure, looking forward to the wisdom of being 50, Famous Sharron development, wanting to be Australian and change outfits a lot, inspiration from a Brisbane drag queen, a hard Edinburgh experience, being famous for no reason, Sharron’s trip to Melbourne, celebrity after-parties, 2015 being a great year/year of hard work, comedy being bad for mental health, Facebook being a “highlights reel”, always being honest about how hard things can be, the unhelpfulness of beating ourselves up, the role of forgiveness in success, speaking to yourself the same way you would to a friend (ie, kindly), learning from hard times, metaphorically climbing Mount Everest … and then climbing back down so you can climb the next mountain, recent experiences of losing people to suicide, the importance of reaching out and talking if you’re feeling down, finding out what works for you, and a little plug for Perth Fringe in February.

Interview with lovely lady comedian Nicky Barry, who is a self-described late bloomer in comedy as she first entered Raw Comedy at the age of 45 in 2011 (and made the state finals no less). She then returned to Raw in 2013 and has been gigging regularly around Melbourne since then. About 12 months ago, Nicky also became the resident comic at the vaudeville club Speakeasy HQ in Melbourne.

We discuss: mental health in family life, Nicky's high-functioning dysfunctional family, alcohol issues in family members, Nanna's electric shock treatment (and resulting trauma), Nicky's main career in community development work, destigmatising MH, seeing people as people rather than a diagnosis, changes in language to describe mental health issues, reflections on memories of growing up, being a positive person by nature, personalising family issues as a teen, how childhood can consciously affect parenting, the different talents and experiences of Nicky's kids, monitoring healthy levels of self-discipline, the challenges of her youngest with Autism, mental health in the comedy community, bonding over humour, truth and vulnerability at the heart of the best comedy, time healing, the importance of having someone to listen when you need it, men vs women seeking help, issues in regional and remotes areas, the role of GPs, Man Therapy, the importance of learning more about a loved one's mental health issues, the universality of fluctuating mental health, investing money into community services, Kennett government cut-backs, Men's Sheds, Kennett now being Chairman of Beyond Blue, comorbidity of mental health issues and domestic violence, unemployment, Centrelink/DSP, homelessness, workplace support and incentives (eg. Job Share arrangements), government modelling, policitcal advising, making the most of free comedy, and getting out and having fun with comedy - with or without mental health issues.

Interview with Perth Comedian Jeff Hewitt, who has had a comedy career (in balance with his law career) for 11 years, and also has a podcast called Once Were Zombies.

We discuss: Jeff's breakdown in the final year of law school and his subsequent diagnosis of depression, rebelling and dropping out of law school and starting comedy, tattoos and green hair, insulting a room full of bikies, triggers for his breakdown (ie, law school pressure, competitive peers, and unrequited love), encouragement to seek help for depression, how Jeff got into comedy, the co-dependent relationship with a messy break up, rediscovering himself, comedy being the "go-to place" after trauma, law and comedy being opposite but balancing careers, the dark side of Family Law (domestic violence, child abuse, financial battles), comedy = connector of people, positive outlook after being fired in 2011, the burn out of family lawyers, the oxymoron of "corporate social responsibility", "Triangulating", Zen and meditating on a black cushion, book: Zen And The Art Of Stand Up Comedy by Jay Sankey, childhood amibitions, being poorer but happier, getting into Family Law by process of elimination, inspiration from Geraldine Hickey, Jeff's show about depression called Reach Arounds For The Soul (2009), meaningful vs whimsical comedy styles, helping people vs being a cog in the machine, Once Were Zombies, Infinite Jest - the book and the comedy room, podcasting to cope with traffic jams, importance of a good home life, the benefits of meditation and plugging in to the universe to recharge, reading recommendations, cutting down on social media, getting out of your own ego, no matter how bad something is you never know what's just around the corner, and don't give up on yourself or Jeff will personally come to you to kick your ass!

Interview with Frank William Hampster, who has been crafting comedy since 2011. Frank describes himself as "a standup comedian, connoisseur, conspiracy theory expert and general bon vivant". He is also the Executive Producer of The Elegant Universe Radio Show, which you can catch 4pm to 6pm on Fridays on 94.1FM, and also on You Tube. Frank was in the Australian Army until 2011 and this interview contains very open discussion about his Army experiences and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)*.

We discuss: PTSD (shell shock and war neurosis), jumping at shadows, the phenomenon of symptoms disappearing when Frank is on stage, being in the 4th year of a "comedy apprenticeship", Frank's breakdown in 2008, being in and out of a mental health facility, the Boxing Day Tsunami, preparation for warfare vs military response to civillian crises, humour as a defence mechanism, Oscar Wilde quote, philosophy re comedians telling the truth, occasional not-so-good gigs due to soldier-mode aggression, feeling of normailty on stage, Anti-Depressants, the slow return to work, "face leakage", stigmas in the Army, survival reason for protecting women and children first, sharing his view of Black Saturday, Psychiatrist and medication, benefits of exercise, coffee and cupcakes, eating habits, sleeping habits, relationships and MH issues, nightmares, not believing in ghosts but finding a way to cope with seeing them, middle name "Darling", empathy, understanding, tollerance and patience, recognising triggers, concern about soldiers not having access to mental health support ... slight interruption by colleagues following Frank's re-enactment of a trigger at Brisbane Airport ... Charity organisation Soldier On (check out their Facebook page), 'fight or flight' doesn't include flight in the Army, noise cancelling headphones, being proactive, avoiding self pity, reaching out to friends, cuddle/hugs therapy, strength inside comedians and love of the craft, killing and dying, connectedness within the comedy community, unhelpfulness of hearing "Harden the F@$% Up", Generation X saying No to child abuse and gender inequality, resilience, love of children, Rosie Batty, comedy for coping and wellbeing, views on PSOs, Key message: Be tollerant and patient, just SMILE, working miracles, and the craziness of under-funding mental health.

*WARNING: This podcast includes graphic discussion about war/battles, the Boxing Day Tsunami, and the Black Saturday bushfires. If you need to speak with someone about how you feel after listening, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Part Two of the MAA interview with Ari Mustonen (Part One was released last week, feel free to go back and have a listen if you haven't already). Ari has been in Australia for only a few months but he's already storming the Melbourne comedy scene. Ari is from Estonia, and has been doing comedy for about two years (in two different languages!).

In Part Two of this podcast we discuss:Getting into marijuana via being a bouncer/waiter/bar tender, being social with drunk people, 'cures' for social anxiety, Athieism, the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, smart people smoking marijuana, researching marijuana before using it, theories on paranoia, positive influences of marijuana, medicinal marijuana and experiences of mental clarity, legalisation/decriminalisation, theories on cigarettes, drug messages in high school, prescription drugs and abuse/addiction, issue of insecurity while growing up, stage fright and keeping things in perspective, seeking a father figure, coaches and older comedians, isolation due to no one being open, introspective perspective, feeling guilty about porn, security of knowing someone has been through the same experiences, life changes when kids come along, kicking elders out of bars, unvisersal emotions, philosophy that Everything Will Pass, and the purpose of this podcast. Enjoy :)

Interview with Ari Mustonen, who has been in Australia for only a few months but is already storming the Melbourne comedy scene. Ari is from Estonia, and also spent time in Poland and Finland growing up. He's been doing comedy for about 2 years, and in at least 2 different languages so far.

In Part One of this podcast we discuss: the size of Australia (for travel purposes), the challenge of changing languages in comedy, benefits of using English, accents, being fully immersed in a foreign language, Melbourne's cultural mix, mental preparation for new things, pressing the reset button, teaching independence, education options, quitting vs deciding otherwise, being a "C- or F-List" celebrity, Deal Or No Deal, deciding to travel, initiative to break a cycle, expecting the unexpected, less money = more relieved/happy, self-belief, anger and pressure, family background, growing up with your mum working in another country, record absenteeism, Mixed Martial Arts, live like there's no tomorrow vs who do I want to be when I'm older, headaches and potential brain damage from sparring, losing memory, and time limits with sporting careers compared to comedy. Please enjoy, and listen out for Part Two next week.

Interview with James "normally funnier than this conversation*" Masters, who has been in the comedy game since 2008. Originally from Perth, his comedy career grew in Vancouver, Canada and you can now find him in Melbourne where he does stand up around the place, including 2 years running at the MICF. James also runs a couple of comedy shows in Victoria (Australia, not Canada).

We discuss the high percentage of Aussies at Whistler, comedians seeing the world differently, observations and challenges of Bipolar Disorder, manic vs depressive states, major stage fright, experiences with suicidal friends, experimenting with variables to quality-test jokes, Steve Hughes, the process behind James' MICF shows, the trap of doing what other people are doing (rather than what you're good at), Oscar Wilde's quote, comedic influences vs developing your own style, comedy beginnings and creative outlets, phases in the early days of stand up, the love of the career, down-playing successes so you don't get a big head, and being kind when you flop, the brutality of Edinburgh, extraneous factors affecting a show and the stars aligning, views on MICF and the theory of quality control, gaining experience and learning on the job, alochol and drugs and bumming cigarettes, "unaddictive personality", Movember vs "Just Moustache", and weight loss as an incentive to periodically stop drinking.

*I can attest to this, and you can find out for yourselves by checking him or one of his comedy nights out - look for Dirty Secrets Comedy Night on Facebook.

Interview with Matt Fennell, aka Melbourne's King of Food Porn, is a man of many talents including comedy, music theatre, cabaret, and general entertainer. Matt hails from Brisbane and has been in Melbourne for the past 5 years. We discuss: Matt's experience with depression which started about 7 years ago, reluctance of males to seek help for mental health issues, the impact of depresison on both entertaining and the day job, the happiness mask of "the show must go on", remaining friends with exes, unhelpful thinking during a break-up, premature "stage therapy", The Wound Analogy, self-help books and internet self-help options, "planting the seed" of seeking help, Amanda Palmer, black & white & grey, Lightning Bolt moments of change, practicing gratitude (cliched but helpful!), mindfulness, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, acting in accordance with your values, the face of Ruby Wax, other coping strategies, Yoga in comedy, the brilliance of Zumba, the Comfort Eating Theory, love of sleep, carbon footprints, cycling safety, being a morning person (or not), #Grateful, #Blessed, reflecting things in the positive: "Flip That Shit!", Hannah Gadsby, Ending The Stigma of Mental Health, that movie guy and Uncle Willie, song writing and composing, musical comedy critics, and more useful references.

Interview with Brad Richardson, aka Rad Bitchin'son, who is a comedian and trivia host. You can find him on stage around Melbourne, particularly at the Comic's Lounge, or at the Mountain View Hotel in Richmond if you'd like to test out your trivia knowledge.We discuss: the double positive of his stage persona, comedians opening up about mental health, diagnosis of depression, pros and cons of medication, fear of being average, walking through treacle, being (like) Kardashian-like, more on medication, the wider range of emotions, the vicious cycle of depression, the challenges of fitting in exercise, 'fighting with one arm' analogy, the solo nature of comedy, self-praise vs self-doubt, fitting in helpful coping strategies, 'the false economy', team sports and injuries, the new puppy, keeping things in perspective, the Melbourne Soundscape, views on counselling, juggling plates and changing channels, importance of rapport, mental health initiatives, wearing masks, relaxation, golfing tantrums, being surrounded by technology and screens, driving as downtime, yoga and Headspace app, questioning the type of laughter, "Westgating", finding a balance, amplification of the negative, constructive criticisim, getting runs on the board to get better at comedy, pressure to give people their money's worth, the notion of perfection, the myth of the perfect gig, giving good advice to ourselves, and June Northern Month*.

*Even though it's July, The Little Dum Dum Club (podcast) are extending June Northern Month for a little longer until they reach their 250th show. The money they raise goes to Beyond Blue, so to find out more and/or donate, head to their Facebook page: The Little Dum Dum Club with Tommy Dassalo and Karl Chandler.

Interview with Adam Jacobs, who originally hails from Adelaide, and now lives in Melbourne. Adam performs comedy and also does some MC work in Melbourne, and occasionally in NSW. His jokes tend to be one-liners and non-sequiturs, and maybe a comedy song every now and again. We discuss the pressures of modern life (acronym: POML), OCD jokes, the mandatory Terrible Stage Experience, first experiences of comedy, finding your niche as a comedian, mananging and overcoming stage nerves, positive reframing, post-show reflections, Comedy at the Olympics, marshmallows & fluffy bunnies, comedy as a response to stress, genetically inheriting your sense of humour, sense of humour and sense of self, nuns stealing bikes, PTSD and trauma, Light vs Dark, coping by way of nonsense, catharsis of working with animals, bottle-feeding kangaroos, negotiating a peace-offering with Peggy the Ecelectus Parrot, getting material from a non-existent dog, fake-smiling and Fake It Til You Make It, acting in accordance with your values and the weather analogy, Cindy Lauper and nail polish, reflecting on depression, healthy habits, wellbeing and self-care activites, appreciation of Adam's voice, comedy problem-solving & mental gymnastics, and trying on different sorts of comedy and discerning what you like.

Also, apologies from Shae for getting the name of her own podcast wrong at the very start of this episode!