Mental As Anyone

Interview with the open and authentic JC Clapham, who has been performing comedy since January this year. He jumped right in with the RAW competition, and then performed a solid 50-minute Melbourne Fringe show in September titled Humpty Dumpty Daddy. JC also appeared on MAA's current favourite TV show, Hard Quiz, a couple of weeks ago. You can catch JC at the Adelaide Fringe from 13-18 March, and at the 2017 MICF with two shows (a refined Humpty Dumpty Daddy, and a second show titled I'm A Futurist And Even I Don't Know What That Means).

We discuss: Major life events from mid-2016, support from the Beyond Blue phone line, reflections on oversharing about mental health, changes with work, family background and Dad's suicide when JC was aged 16, reflections on the relationship with his Dad, sharing mental health issues on social media and messages of support from around the world, healthy sharing of emotions with his children, professional and personal self-care, stew ingredients, recent appreciation of quotes and memes, JC's super powers, learning patience and locus of control, and JC's message to be open and authentic.

Interview with Melbourne Comedian Ben McCarthy, who has been performing comedy for the past 18 months, including a successful Fringe show this year. You can catch Ben at various venues around Melbourne, including at Speakeasy HQ for the MICF in 2017 with a show called Nevermind.

We discuss: Having friends with mental health issues and never knowing unless people share what they are experiencing, fitting in, views on anxiety, the ABC TV series "Man Up" by Gus Worland*, the book "Night" by Elie Wiesel, The Mental Health Quiz, Ben's super powers, and Ben's message: Don't be afraid to speak up.

*For information, episodes and statistics on Man Up, check out the website at: www.manup.org.au

Interview with worldly comedian Vincent Tshaka, who started comedy 7 years ago as a way to learn about Australian culture. His comedy is based on his life and experiences, including racism. Vincent frequents venues like the Comic's Lounge, the Exford and the Joint, as well as travelling for gigs interstate.

We discuss: Being booed off-stage in Kenya, the young comedy scene in Kenya and making fun of tribes, the lack of discussion about mental health in Kenya, moving to England in his 20s, government involvement in promotion of mental health issues in Australia, recognising the flow-on effects of mental health on society and the economy, growing awareness of mental health issues in Kenya, Band-Aid approach of not selling alcohol until 5pm, not addressing the underlying issue of mental illness, views on the Kenyan Government ("democratic on paper"), self-funded mental health care in Kenya, the benefits of community care and family support, importance of addressing the underlying causes, open racism in the UK vs more subtle racism in Australia, defending himself against other people's perceptions, being told to "tone down" on stage so that others are comfortable, being stereotyped, the issue of applying for jobs, passive-aggressive racism and finding the humour in it, using comedy to get people thinking and talking about issues, celebrating cultural differences, mixing cultures to grow and develop, Vincent's super power, making a snowman in his PJs, and his message of asking people "How are you?" because that question can be a lifesaver.

Interview with Matt Young, a Tassie born Comedian who started performing in 2014 and moved to Melbourne in 2015. Matt has done the Tasmanian showcase in the MICF for the past 2 years (called Heads A-Plenty), and runs a comedy room in Hawthorn called Guerilla on Wednesdays – check it out if you can!

We discuss: The awesome Tassie comedy scene, the relationship between drugs, sobriety, creativity and mental health, starting and stopping weed, different strains of pot for creativity, Matt's experience of having motivation and creativity dulled by weed, substances being addictive vs being habit-forming, celebrating periods of sobriety with weed, 2 weeks off in Japan, how weed affects sleep, managing social pressure, decision-making process, views on alcohol, expectations from self and others, the value in learning what you don't want to do, Matt's dream of being a blu-tack scientist, being a teacher's aide, kids being a rich source of material, Matt's love of entertaining, sketch comedy and writing, learning from bombing on stage, Matt's super power, and his message of the value and well-being in taking action if you're feeling down (eg. making something with your friends).

Interview with Courtney Barnett's number one fan Daisy Berry, who has been performing comedy for 4 years, including two Adelaide Fringe shows, and a MICF show in 2016. If you're planning to be in WA in January 2017, you can catch Daisy's show at Perth Fringeworld. Also check out Daisy's new podcast, it's called Mad Chats With Daisy Berry.

We discuss: Daisy's "Am I Mental?" show exploring the notion of comedy as therapy, audience over-sharing and listening as best she can, Daisy meeting her Dad at age 16, flipping a coin and going with your gut, family traits, Daisy's first comedy set, supposedly having an easy name to remember, Mad Chats With Daisy Berry podcast (listen now!), accountability for making judgments, portraits of Daisy as a snail, meeting Courtney Barnett, and Daisy's message that no one is perfect and try not to judge.

Interview with the passionate Kieran "Truth Teller" Butler, who has been performing comedy for 15 years, and for the past 5.5 years has run a weekly open mic room at Station 59 in Richmond. Some notable shows from his comedy career include the Ben Cousins Rock Opera in 2009/2010, the Ned Kelly Last Stand Up show in 2011, and the Australia Is Fucked show which Kieran took to Edinburgh in 2013.

We discuss: Comedy in Australia having a bigger role to play than "just getting on the telly" or becoming famous, Kieran's views on child abuse in Australian culture, family history of bipolar disorder, self-medication, the blessing of the way his brain works, what goes down must come up and vice versa, the benefits of working in the Arts for taking care of mental health, the capitalist approach to comedy that will always exist, happiness from his relationship and parenthood, running a room with the view to give back, issues with cliques, the "sad lifestyle" of comedy, the power of people being heard on stage, Everyone Is Welcome policy, black and white terms of acceptance/exclusion, the evolution of comedy, being pigeon-holed with the label of "football satirist", the Michael McIntyre genre of comedy, the importance of the artistic journey, views on medication, self-control with weed, importance of not starting on weed too early in life, Kieran's super powers, the essence of being a true football supporter, the need to experience the pain of defeats to truly appreciate the elation of wins, and being all-in with life.

Interview with the considerate and charming Nat Malcolm, who is a country girl at heart and has been performing comedy in Melbourne for almost 12 months. Nat was part of a MICF show in 2016 with Angela Green, and is working toward her own show next year. You will often find Nat in one of the many open mic rooms Melbourne has running, including Station 59 in Richmond and Tago Mago in Thornbury*.

We discuss: Connecting to other females in comedy, working in male dominated fields, empowerment of women, observational comedy, the role of self-esteem in mental health, "contagion" of mental health issues, growing up with dyslexia, family mental health, depersonalising hurtful comments from others, different types of intelligence, drugs and alcohol use as a teen, having her own liquor-filled bar fridge as a teen, moving out of home and into a "disastrous" share house, Nat's challenge of living with other women, the simplicity of living with boys, friends with mental health issues, treating people with mental health issues as you would treat anyone else, Nat's skill with sarcasm, pros and cons of the philosophy of "if you don't laugh, you cry", the impact of her grandmother's death, advice to never live with a couple, Nat's super powers, her knack of always being right, seeing the good in people, advice that manners are free, texting movie quotes to friends, and Nat's message to treat people with respect and manners.

*I looked up Tago Mago's after recording, go check it out in Thornbury if you can!

Interview with the humble and entertaining David Tulk, who has been performing comedy for 12 years. David has 5 MICF shows under his belt, has performed in Edinburgh, and recently assisted his friend Gabe Hogan with her 2016 Fringe show.

We discuss: David's Bipolar II diagnosis, self-medicating vs self-management, medication to manage self-doubt and negativity, the definition of a pre-sleep, mediating between his parents in childhood, the different ways he and his siblings coped with their parents' separation, ice in regional areas, the unfinished Spanish galleon of Finley Lake, travel via helicopter, Dad's anger and physical violence, reconciling his relationship with Dad, private school corporal punishment and Saturday morning detentions, being a cadet, artistic escapes, smuggling alcohol as a teen, dabbling in drugs, psychiatry vs psychology, sonnets and Shakespeare, obsession with world globes, becoming a full time comedian, corporatised artwork, Ollie the fair weather friend, the joys of being a cool uncle, David's super power, and David's advice to remember that everyone is a fallible human and therefore be nice to everyone and act with love.

Interview with the luminous Nadine Sparks, who performs stand up, and also character comedy and improv. Her Fringe show is called Bridesmaid To Be, which is running from now until 2 October at the Courthouse Hotel.

We discuss: Nadine's early comedy influences, the lack of focus on mental health, benefits of writing, The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, the "fat tax" of gym memberships, walking to notice your surroundings, the intuitive treasure hunt, anxiety overseas, displacement, Nadine's motivation for quitting her addiction, Nadine's positive experience of support services, the best approach of love and kindness, benefits of tough love, family views on depression and other mental health issues, Nadine's role-model Mum, benefits of self-kindness, Nadine's take on the glass half full or empty scenario, Nadine's super powers, and the benefits of hope and gratitude.

Interview with the lovely Jo Bella, who was not a comedy fan at all back in her uni days, but now works as Comedy Producer and also has a partner who is a Comedian. Jo shifted from being a corporate high flyer living an unhealthy lifestyle to being a happier, healthier person working in the Comedy world. Among other achievements, Jo produced four Fringe comedy shows in 2015, and she has produced more shows this year.

We discuss: The 'normality' of mental health issues, the model orphanage in Scotland where her Dad was raised, family mental health issues and losses, being the rock for her Mum, physiological vs environmental causes for mental health issues, impact of grief, the challenge of very mental unwell people not being able to access treatment, comedy as therapy for healing from trauma and a source of empowerment and catharsis, the benefits of exercise, family love of cooking, being in nature, the meditative process of running, leg pressing 100kg after 2 weeks of training, awareness of factors that impact mood, universality of self-doubt, connecting with friends for support via social media, the illuminating Clue app to track periods and mood (you're welcome ladies!), sharing of grief, time for healing*, shame over 'traditionally shameful' things, the importance of reaching out, being vigilant about managing mental health, love of travelling solo, strengthening social connections, Sean's activism and street medic work, empathy and alliances, picking your environment and pursuing your values, Jo's super powers, and Jo's message about the importance of talking to others, and to be weird and be yourself because 'normal' is the problem.

*Special guest sounds from the cleaner and Bourke Street trams!