The Edinburgh Fringe Comedy Podcast

Juliette Burton is an award-winning comedian, writer, presenter, mental health activist and journalist. She has been coming to the Fringe since 2005.

Our audio got a bit messed up a the beginning, forgive us - we fixed it. But please bear with the first 6 minutes or so of drowned audio.

They talk about:

• Creating a safe environment for audiences of all backgrounds
• Juliette explains shifting her approach away from performing her trauma, to establishing healthier psychological boundaries, working with charities, and offering proper resources post-show rather than playing therapist
• They dissect classic three-act story mechanics (establishing context, the "quest," the "smell of death" / false low around 40–45 minutes, and resolution), discussing how it mirrors natural human storytelling and fable structures
• Juliette breaks down how comedians subvert expectations and reinvent narrative tropes, using her show Villain Era as an example of casting characters, building world context, and framing comedy around societal roles

Rick Molland is a comedian, host of one of the longest running comedy nights in Edinburgh, director of the Scottish comedy festival, and one of the main brains behind all Hoots venues at Edinburgh Fringe. Today he is joined by stand-in host, Stephen Case, of RGB Monster.

They talk about:

• The reality of small Fringe teams; big venues aren't running how you think
• The importance of rolling from one Fringe straight into planning the next
• Making big decisions and sticking to them, despite the Fringe's rollercoaster nature
• The truth about the Yurt rumours

Steve Hutchinson is an experienced critic and reviewer for One4Review. 

They talk about:

• The hazards of being a critic and running into people you've reviewed badly
• Scottish representation in comedy awards lists, and the McTavish award
• Details of the reviewing process through the eyes of an actual reviewer
• How reviewers scout possible talent at lineup shows, and what it looks like to cover the Fringe this way

They recommend:

• Corbin Milligan
• Chris Forbes
• Miles Jupp

Stuart Goldsmith has his own wildly successful podcast, alongside his thriving comedy career, and joined us to discuss all things comedy, climate and corporate.

They talk about:

• Money or vibes - which of these is more important to your shows?
• Discovering through an ADHD coach the importance of financial resilience
• The outdated career blueprint for comedians
• Redefining success as you level up in comedy, and Elf Lyons, queen of Edinburgh
• Evolving the comedy business model and building new landscapes for production

Harry Jun is a critically acclaimed Sydney-based comedian, who has sold out his whole run of shows this year at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

They talk about:

• Navigating identity as an Asian-Australian comic performing internationally
• The difference between Edinburgh Fringe versus the Australian Fringe festivals
• Farming your shows for content
• Social media strategies for comedians - converting one-off viral viewers to longterm fans

Multi-award winning comedian Adele Cliff has brought a WIP to the Fringe this year. She joins host Ollie Horn to discuss.

They talk about:

• Ever-decreasing Fringe attendance, including the huge amount of shows this year that have been heavily impacted by low attendance
• The importance of brand consistency as a comedian, and building a recognisable identity
• Growing and changing over 12 years of the Fringe - from student sketches to international solo shows
• How to build a joke that'll win you a 'Best Joke of the Fringe' award

John Robertson is the face and brain behind the hugely successful show, 'The Dark Room.' He is currently performing both this, and a straight stand-up show at the Edinburgh Fringe.

They talk about:

• The challenge of bringing the same show every year, competing with new concepts
• The perils of putting your face on your merch
• The Evolution of The Dark Room, and how it has transformed over 15 years
• TV deals, development hell, and failures we don't mention

David Correos is a New Zealand comedian currently performing his show 'Noise Zealand' at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

They talk about:

• Show evolution and the importance of flexibility in your concepts
• Whether drinking alcohol helps or hinders your comedy performance
• The balance between absurd alternative bits and traditional observational stand-up, and how one might feed the other
• The psychology of the audience and how to 'trap' them
• How to get a crowd to 'buy in' to your show

They recommend:

• Dan Rath
• Ray O'Leary
• Hoani Hotene
• Booth the Clown
• Jack Ansett

Bennett Aaron is a stand-up comedian presenting his show I Regret This Already at this year's festival.

They talk about:

• How the comedy circuit was in the olden days
• Becoming the UK's first major victim of identity theft and how that show skyrocketed his career
• Writing and teaching sitcom structure
• How to process personal grief on stage 
• How comedians make money these days

They recommend:

• Ignacio Lopez
• Milton Jones
• Mark Simmons

Abbie Carter Simpson is a stand-up comedian, singer, and actor presenting her Edinburgh Fringe show Stand-up Couple alongside her partner Joe McTernan.

They talk about:

• Performing a joint double-act show as a romantic couple, delegating show management duties, and navigating trust on stage.
• Writing comedy together, adapting jokes to fit individual performance voices, and the ethics of "punching down."
• Transitioning from musical theatre and drama school into stand-up comedy, commercial castings, and how the audition process works. 
• Abbie's experience performing on Britain's Got Talent, writing family-friendly comedy songs, and live television production logistics.
• The importance of supporting arts and music education in schools.

They recommend:

• NewsRevue
• James Beatty's Comedy Brunch
• Aidan Jones
• Becky Umbers
• Milo Edwards
• Massioke