Recorded in January 2020, John Kearns is a master at finding pathos in the prosaic, combining clowning and standup in a way that makes absolutely no sense written down. With influences from Jacques Tati to Neil Hamburger, we explored his sense of place within himself, overreaching in his writing, and ambition in his career...

Join the Insiders Club at patreon.com/comcompod where you can instantly get access to 30 minutes of exclusive extras including John's brilliant technique for underpinning all his material with genuine pathos, delving into writing for Harry Hill, meeting Chris Morris, and how the spotlight can burn...

👉 Complete the ComComPod Survey and sign up to the NEW ComComPod Mailing List!

Support our independently produced Podcast from only £3/month at Patreon.com/ComComPod

✅ Instant access to full video and ad-free audio episodes

✅ 30 minutes of exclusive extra content with John

✅ Early access to new episodes

✅ Exclusive membership offerings including a monthly “Stu&A”

PLUS you’ll get access to the full back catalogue of extras you can find nowhere else!

Catch Up with John:

John Kearns is on tour throughout 2026 with Tilting at Windmills, find all the info and more at www.johnkearnscomedy.co.uk.

Everything I'm up to:

Come and see me LIVE! Find out all the info and more at stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy.

Discover my comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at stuartgoldsmith.com/climate.

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

405 episodes and 11 years later… the incredible Josie Long returns as we dig into NOW IS THE TIME OF MONSTERS, her new show about discovery, wonder, extinction and how to walk through a landscape of monstrous disaster.

We discuss why it's not a bad thing to preach to the choir, the themes of climate dread and parenthood, how Josie created a jaw dropping immersive finale, the harsh reality of mixed-bill gigs, redefining success on her own terms and we find out if Josie is happy...

Join the Insiders Club at patreon.com/comcompod where you can instantly WATCH the full episode and get access to 20 minutes of exclusive extras including the emotional architecture of an Edinburgh Hour, letting yourself be vulnerable on stage as well as hand-transcribing sets, creating cue cards and recycling abandoned bits.

👉 Sign up to the NEW ComComPod Mailing List and follow the show on Instagram, YouTube & TikTok,

Support our independently produced Podcast from only £3/month at Patreon.com/ComComPod

✅ Instant access to full video and ad-free audio episodes

✅ 20 minutes of exclusive extra content with Josie

✅ Early access to new episodes

✅ Exclusive membership offerings including a monthly “Stu&A”

PLUS you’ll get access to the full back catalogue of extras you can find nowhere else!

Catch Up with Josie:

Josie Long: Now Is The Time Of Monsters is now on tour through to December, coming to Leicester, York, Newcastle, Glasgow and Kendal. For more info, visit josielong.com. You can also keep up-to-date on Instagram, @JosieLong.

Everything I'm up to:

Come and see me LIVE! Find out all the info and more at stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy.

Discover my comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at stuartgoldsmith.com/climate.

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

Adam Riches is known for his shows that teeter perfectly between crafted brilliance and sheer chaos with his fearless, high-energy characters performances - from Sean Bean, Coach Coach to Michael Ball. This is an incredibly rare look behind the mask and one you don't want to miss!

We discuss why Edinburgh shouldn't be seen as the Olympics, Eddie Izzard's documentary that inspired him to rip up the rulebook, how audience participation became his superpower, the challenges of the industry, how Sean Bean's Dungeons 'n Bastards reignited a creative spark and is Adam Riches happy…

Join the Insiders Club at patreon.com/comcompod where you can instantly WATCH the full episode and get access to 20 minutes of exclusive extras including learning to shift gears for stand-up audiences with character comedy, the choice to seek out an audience, a wild late night Edinburgh spot and the timing structure he created which allowed his act to remain freeform.

Follow the Pod: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok, and also you can also sign up to the Mailing List!

Support our independently produced Podcast from only £3/month at Patreon.com/ComComPod

✅ Instant access to full video and ad-free audio episodes

✅ 20 minutes of exclusive extra content with Adam

✅ Early access to new episodes (where possible!)

✅ Exclusive membership offerings including a monthly “Stu&A”

PLUS you’ll get access to the full back catalogue of extras you can find nowhere else!

Catch Up with Adam:

Adam Riches: The 12 Beans of Christmas is on tour this December across the UK and also stars in Jimmy, which returns to the Park theatre in London from the 19th to 24th January 2026. For more info, please visit linktre.ee/adamrichescomedy.

Everything I'm up to:

See me live (when there's dates!)… Find out all the info at stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy.

Discover my comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at stuartgoldsmith.com/climate.

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

Doug Naylor is the co-creator of the long-running, hugely successful sci-fi comedy Red Dwarf, having written or co-written every single episode! Doug was also the Head Writer and Script Editor on the original Spitting Image, has written a number of award-winning radio shows and is a best-selling author.

In this episode we dig into all things Red Dwarf, from the creation of the show with Rob Grant, the show’s continued success while retaining an outsider status, UKTV's recent cancellation of a TV film and what the future may hold... We also talk about writing his incredible first children's novel, Sin Bin Island which I highly recommend!

Join the Insiders Club at patreon.com/comcompod where you can WATCH the full episode and get access to 15 minutes of exclusive extras all about Spitting Image where we talk about initially refusing to join the show eight times expanding the puppets beyond politicians and the real-world impact of the show.

Follow the Pod: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok!

Support our independently produced Podcast from only £3/month at Patreon.com/ComComPod

✅ Instant access to full video and ad-free audio episodes

✅ 15 minutes of exclusive extra content with Doug

✅ Early access to new episodes (where possible!)

✅ Exclusive membership offerings including a monthly “Stu&A”

PLUS you’ll get access to the full back catalogue of extras you can find nowhere else!

Catch Up with Doug:

Doug's first children’s novel Sin Bin Island is out now wherever you get your books!

You can also keep up-to-date with Doug across socials, @DougRDNaylor.

Everything I'm up to:

See me live (when there's dates!)… Find out all the info at stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy.

Discover my comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at stuartgoldsmith.com/climate.

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

478 episodes later… Alan Davies returns! He’s an all-round fixture of British comedy as a respected stand-up, writer and actor - from the unflappable Jonathan Creek to the permanent mischief-maker on QI.

His second memoir Just Ignore Him was widely praised for its honesty, and his follow-up, White Male Stand Up, continues that deeply personal journey. He’s now back on the road for the first time in a decade with Alan Davies: Think Ahead.

We discuss Alan’s choice to open up onstage for the first time about his traumatic childhood, the breakthrough moment when a WIP becomes “a real show”, the trick to building momentum with monkey bars, how writing offered Alan emotional relief as well as a record for the future and why when dishonesty is everywhere, being honest matters.

Please note: this episode includes discussion of child sexual abuse. If you’ve been affected by these issues or need support, please visit napac.org.uk and 1in6.org.

I need YOUR HELP for Episode 500! Complete the ComComPod survey 👉 stuartgoldsmith.com/survey

Join the Insiders Club at patreon.com/comcompod where you can WATCH the full episode and get access to 20 minutes of exclusive extras inc Alan’s rare ability to openly admit failure, navigating the pull between creative integrity and financial opportunity and the crisis of confidence that lead to a 10 year break in stand-up.

Support the Podcast from only £3/month at Patreon.com/ComComPod

✅ Exclusive access to full video and ad-free audio episodes

✅ 20 minutes of exclusive extra content with Alan

✅ Early access to new episodes (where possible!)

✅ Exclusive membership offerings including a monthly “Stu&A”

PLUS you’ll get access to the full back catalogue of extras you can find nowhere else!

Catch Up with Alan:

Alan Davies: Think Ahead is now on tour throughout the UK, find all the dates and more at alandavies.live.

You can also now read Alan’s newly published memoir, White Male Stand-Up, available wherever you get your books!

Everything I'm up to:

See me live (when there's dates!)… Find out all the info at stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy.

Discover my comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at stuartgoldsmith.com/climate.

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

Emma Doran did her very first stand-up gig while on maternity leave - she won best act that night and hasn’t stopped gigging since! As well as sold out tours across Ireland and the UK, Emma has appeared on Last One Laughing hosted by Graham Norton and published a bestselling memoir which explored family, friendship, young motherhood and taking risks.

We discuss how becoming a parent built discipline, focus and work ethic, why Emma has never released a full show and why she now wishes she had, why it’s easier to express anger and vulnerability on stage than in real life, the connection between self-worth and performance, why comedians are so hard on themselves and is Emma Doran happy…

I need YOUR HELP for Episode 500! Complete the ComComPod survey 👉 stuartgoldsmith.com/survey

Join the Insiders Club at patreon.com/comcompod where you can WATCH the full episode and get access to 30 minutes of exclusive extras inc the incremental (not viral) approach to building an audience that sells tickets, knowing when to kill a joke and why comics need to step outside the Edinburgh bubble.

Support the Podcast from only £3/month at Patreon.com/ComComPod

✅ Exclusive access to full video and ad-free audio episodes

✅ 30 minutes of exclusive extra content with Emma

✅ Early access to new episodes (where possible!)

✅ Exclusive membership offerings including a monthly “Stu&A”

PLUS you’ll get access to the full back catalogue of extras you can find nowhere else!

Catch Up with Emma:

Emma Doran is on tour with EMMACULATE throughout the UK and Ireland until April 2026.

Find all the dates and more at emmadorancomedy.com.

Everything I'm up to:

See me live (when there's dates!)… Find out all the info at stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy.

Discover my comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at stuartgoldsmith.com/climate.

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

Lucy Pearman is one of the most inventive and original comedians in the UK, her shows are gloriously surreal, full of clowning, characters, props, audience interaction and ideas that feel like they’ve tumbled straight out of a wonderfully strange imagination.

Her one-off BBC Three original comedy, Please Help, was nominated for a BAFTA, and she won the Malcolm Hardee Award for Comic Originality.

We discuss exploring the vulnerability beneath the absurd, Lucy’s process of discovering characters onstage, how embracing strangeness is an act of connection, the reality of making art in our current economy, how the death of director Adam Brace impacted her creative process, the challenges of bringing clowning to a wider audience and is Lucy Pearman happy…

I need YOUR HELP for Episode 500! Complete the ComComPod survey 👉 stuartgoldsmith.com/survey

Join the Insiders Club at patreon.com/comcompod where you can WATCH the full episode and get access to over 10 minutes of exclusive extras inc why Lucy used to lie about wanting a career on stage, the chaotic pantomime mishap that sparked her desire to pursue comedy and the struggle of being an outsider at drama school.

Support the Podcast from only £3/month at Patreon.com/ComComPod

✅ Exclusive access to full video and ad-free audio episodes

✅ Over 10 minutes of exclusive extra content with Lucy

✅ Early access to new episodes (where possible!)

✅ Exclusive membership offerings including a monthly “Stu&A”

PLUS you’ll get access to the full back catalogue of extras you can find nowhere else!

Catch Up with Lucy:

Lucy Pearman: Lunartic is at the Soho Theatre from Monday 29th September through to Saturday 4th October!

You can find all the dates and more at LucyPearman.com.

Everything I'm up to:

There’s THREE opportunities to see me live over the next few weeks… Find out all the info at stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy.

27th September - The Comedy Box, Bristol 

29th September - Hippodrome, Bristol (SOLD OUT)

4th October - Aberystwyth Comedy Festival

Discover my comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at stuartgoldsmith.com/climate.

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

Welcome to this bonus episode where Georgia Elliott-Smith and I have joined forces to take on the grubbiest little sustainability secrets of my fellow comedians. We'll be offering compassion, insight and some counter-argument, if not actual absolution to both Ivo Graham and Laura Lexx!

We'll be back to regular scheduled programming in the next few weeks in the run up to the BIG EPISODE 500! Don't forget to take part in our ComComPod survey at stuartgoldsmith.com/survey where we want to know your favourite episode, most memorable moments and what you want to see in the future...

Where to find everyone:

Ivo Graham: ivograham.com

Laura Lexx: lauralexx.co.uk

Georgia Elliott Smith: linkedin.com/in/georgiaelliott-smith

Stuart Goldsmith: stuartgoldsmith.com

Keep up-to-date with all things The Comedian's Comedian Podcast:

YouTube: youtube.com/@ComComPod

Instagram: instagram.com/ComComPod

TikTok: tiktok.com/@ComComPod

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

Complete the ComComPod survey 👉 stuartgoldsmith.com/survey

Well, episode 500 is nearly here... who'd have thought it?!

To mark the milestone, we're gathering SOME DATA. Your favourite guests, moments, future plans and all that jazz which will be used in some extremely self indulgent special plans. The majority of the questions are optional, so feel free to skip if needed.

As a thanks for taking part, we'll be gifting an Insider's Insider 12-month membership on Patreon to one lucky respondent (just make sure your email is correct!).

Any questions, you know where I am! Thanks so much for all your support, exciting times ahead... 👀

Keep up to date with all things The Comedian's Comedian Podcast

YouTube: youtube.com/@ComComPod

Instagram: instagram.com/ComComPod

TikTok: tiktok.com/@ComComPod

You can also support the Podcast from only £3/month at Patreon.com/ComComPod where you'll get:

✅ Exclusive access to full video and ad-free audio episodes

✅ Hundreds of hours of extra content

✅ Early access to new episodes (where possible!)

✅ Additional membership offerings including a monthly “Stu&A”

Everything Stu's up to:

Discover Stu’s comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at stuartgoldsmith.com/climate. Find everything else at stuartgoldsmith.com.

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

Aparna Nancherla is a self-described “silly-billy” with her dry sense of humour mixed with hints of the existential, absurd and whimsy.

She’s the author of Unreliable Narrator: Me, Myself and Impostor Syndrome, and the voice behind Hollyhock on Bojack Horseman. Aparna has also appeared in A Simple Favor and Bob’s Burgers and written for Late Night with Seth Meyers and Mythic Quest. Rolling Stone named her one of “The 50 Funniest People Right Now,” and she’s even starred in a Super Bowl ad with Michael Bublé!

We discuss navigating the tension between vulnerability and self-deprecation, the risk of commodifying trauma, using comedy to control the narrative around your perceived flaws, does success cure imposter syndrome and is Aparna Nancherla happy…

Join the Insiders Club at patreon.com/comcompod where you can WATCH the full episode and get access to 20 minutes of exclusive extras including staring in Comedy Central's Corporate, the worst comedy advice she's ever received (it's shocking!), voice acting and navigating creative tension in a work environment.

Support the Podcast from only £3/month at Patreon.com/ComComPod

✅ Exclusive access to full video and ad-free audio episodes

✅ 20 minutes of exclusive extra content with Aparna

✅ Early access to new episodes (where possible!)

✅ Exclusive membership offerings including a monthly “Stu&A”

PLUS you’ll get access to the full back catalogue of extras you can find nowhere else!

Catch Up with Aparna:

Keep up-to-date with all things Aparna Nancherla at aparnacomedy.com, and find her on Instagram @aparnapkin.

Everything Stu's up to:

Come and help me figure out some NEW STUFF at the Edinburgh Fringe until the 17th August 2025. Find all the dates and more at stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy.

Discover Stu’s comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at stuartgoldsmith.com/climate. Find everything else at stuartgoldsmith.com.

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