The Humourology Podcast

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

Natalie has spent her life confronting some of the most confronting realities of our time. Yet she has remained energised, hopeful and committed. Her secret, she says, is simple. She laughs. She seeks out people who make her laugh. She allows humour to coexist with seriousness.

Find out how she does this on this week's Humourology Podcast.

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

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

On this episode of The Humourology Podcast, I sat down with Sean Foley, multi award winning director, writer, actor and former Artistic Director of Birmingham Rep. You will know his work from The Play What I Wrote, The Ladykillers, Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense and, most recently, Dr Strangelove starring Steve Coogan.

Sean has spent his life around people who understand how to land a laugh. More importantly, he understands why it lands.

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

Spending time with Sir Rupert Gavin is a reminder that real influence is human. It listens. It laughs. It stays curious. And it understands that audiences, whether in a theatre or a boardroom, want to feel seen.

I recommend listening with an open mind, a sense of curiosity, and perhaps the thought that humour, used well, might be one of the most serious leadership tools we have.

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

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

John Altman—BAFTA and Emmy-winning composer, conductor, and the man whose music has made you cry (Titanic), cheer (GoldenEye), and whistle with glee (Life of Brian). He’s scored some of cinema’s most iconic scenes, backed up rock royalty, and brought comic brilliance to the soundtrack of our lives.

Altman grew up in a musically rich household where Judy Garland might drop in for tea and Jack Benny left boot polish on the antimacassars. With family connections to the London Palladium and showbiz royalty as regulars at the flat, John was surrounded by two things from birth: music and mirth. It’s no wonder he believes, as I do, that great music and great comedy share the same DNA. Both rely on rhythm, timing, and knowing exactly when to hold back and when to hit the big note—or the big laugh. He explains why so many comedians are failed musicians, and why so many musicians wish they were comedians. It’s all in the timing.

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

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

In this second episode with Hal, we were able to go into the darker and more complex ideas of how and why humour permeates through our lives. We dug into the idea of comedy as a coping mechanism, a pressure valve, and a way of reframing pain into something that lifts you.

For Hal, humour isn’t just a performance - it’s a perspective. A way of saying, Yes, this hurts - but here’s why it’s also ridiculous. Hal is also extraordinarily generous with his advice and knowledge, we touched on lots of way for everybody to benefit from this, from top tips on how to find your authentic self on stage to his own comedic teachers such as Eric Morecambe, and what all of us can learn from some of the greatest performers ever.

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

When Hal Cruttenden joined me on The Humourology Podcast, I knew we were going to laugh. What I didn’t expect was just how much wisdom would come wrapped in wit, warmth, and the occasional well-aimed insult.

Hal has that rare ability to be searingly honest and side-splittingly funny all at once. He’s a comic who can take the mickey out of you to your face and still leave you feeling loved. In this first half of our chat, we dig into why that ability to tease with tenderness might just be the secret sauce to great comedy - and great connection.

Hal draws on his experience as a comedian, actor, presenter and writer to provide his own unique take on Humourology and the power of humour in our lives which makes for a fascinating conversation on the Humourology Podcast.

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