This week's episode is a little longer than usual, as our host Graeme Rayner and guest Elizabeth Vantaa Black discuss the recent revelations within the UK comedy industry, which has been having something of a #MeToo moment. They also then discuss Liz's PTSD, which stems from two horrifying events in her life (to be heard to be believed) and how she took up comedy as a direct result of trying to face her fears and lay some ghosts to rest. 

Also covered are Liz;s comedy car crash moment (not a metaphor) the benefits and pitfalls of having your own goth fan club and the origins of the phrase "blowing smoke up your arse". 

If you like this episode, please review, like, subscribe or whatever else people do when they like podcasts. 

In Episode 6, host Graeme Rayner talks to Maxine Wade about her experiences of being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, and later with Borderline Personality Disorder. We also discuss how the COVID19 lockdown is affecting Maxine (she's a frontline NHS worker) and her time under more intensive care for mental health issues, after she was sectioned. 

Please listen, like, subscribe, share and let us know what you think. We've had some great feedback about our first 5 episodes and would love to hear your comments or suggestions for future episodes. 

If you want to find out more about Maxine, visit her Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/WaxineMade/

In this episode our host Graeme Rayner chats with Matt Reed, a highly successful comic from the North East., about loads of issues - the Black Lives Matter movement, social media (and how it can be toxic when dealing with a mental health condition), deep depression leading to considering suicide and crippling panic attacks caused by the prolonged behaviour of a very disturbed stalker.  

Matt later turned this into a successful show, "Stalked" which you can enjoy here: https://watch.hotwatercomedy.co.uk/videos/matt-reed-stalked

Somehow, the conversation is very lighthearted and there is even the sound of birdsong in the distance.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussion of suicide. 

In this episode, host Graeme Rayner chats with Sam Serrano about life with Kabuki Syndrome, learning difficulties and mental health issues, and how starting out as a comic at the tender age of 17 helped Sam face life with all 3. They also discuss the impact of the COVID19 lockdown and why flatulence is not necessarily a reason to end a relationship. 

Follow Sam on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/samuelserranocomedian/

This week's episode sees regular host Graeme Rayner chatting with James Bayes, who has been something of a mentor for Graeme since he started out in comedy. 

James talks openly about his attempted suicide, the Edinburgh fringe show that resulted and his own robust views on the way people talk about and manage their own mental health.

In Episode 2, Graeme chats with kindred spirit (and often times road trip buddy) Jonny Brook.

Jonny is a gentle soul with an ability to weave words together eloquently when discussing the darkest of topics. Jonny discusses life with a physical disability, how this informs but does not define his act and how having been forced to cope with long term isolation has meant that the COVID-19 lockdown's only impact has been his inability to get out and gig.

This episode contains some strong language and excellent humour some may find offensive.

In our first episode Graeme talks to one of his best friends in the business - Keith Wild. Winner of King Gong at the Manchester Comedy Store, Beat the Frog at the Frog and Bucket and the Shoecake Gong show in Stockton, Keith is a rude, lewd and hilarious musical comedian, singing original songs (he thinks parodies are "hack").

This episode contains strong language and discussions of drug use, suicidal thoughts and mental health issues, as well as songs of a sexual nature. 

In this very brief trailer, host Graeme Rayner explains what Sparks of Madness is about.