Dai Henwood has been a regular fixture on television screens across New Zealand with the topical comedy panel show ‘7Days’, ‘Have You Been Paying Attention’ and ‘Taskmaster’, as well as hosting ‘Dancing With The Stars’, ‘Family Feud’, and ‘LEGO Masters New Zealand’. In addition to being across the nation’s TV screens, he’s one of the country’s most accomplished stand-ups, winning countless awards and having international success across the world. In this episode we discuss Dai’s bowel cancer diagnosis, finding peace through comedy and the expectation that comes with being a TV comic. Join t ..read more

Brian Simpson is a stand-up comic hailing from Austin, TX, where this was in fact recorded as part of SXSW! With a background as a foster child and Marine Corps veteran, Brian brings a rare blend of life experiences to his comedy, offering a refreshingly unique perspective. He's earned a spot on Variety's Top Comics to Watch in 2023 and you might recognise Brian from Comedy Central's Lights Out with David Spade, or his debut Netflix special, Brian Simpson: Live from the Mothership! We discuss how ADHD affects Brian’s comedy, reflecting on mentor advice and learning to embrace discomfort alo ..read more

Julia Masli is an award-winning clown from Estonia, now based in London. Her latest show, “ha ha ha ha ha ha ha” was nominated for Edinburgh's top prize of Best Comedy Show and named number one comedy show of the year by the 'Guardian'. Having now completed a 4-week sold out run of shows at London's Soho Theatre, Julia will embark on a 4 week Off-Broadway transfer to save the USA at Soho Playhouse in New York. We discuss the importance of physical communication when learning a new language, attending Gaulier with the likes of Viggo Venn and vulnerability within an largely improvised show. J ..read more

Martin Urbano is a self-confessed comedy nerd who learned about the world through standup, he became disillusioned with the amount of crappy behaviour on display on the circuit and is largely motivated by revenge! His impressive catalogue of writing credits includes The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and The Chris Gethard Show while his stand-up has taken him to Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Comedy Central’s Featured, the CW’s Howie Mandel Gala, and This Joke presented by Will Smith (pre-slap). We discuss his long awaited first special, The Apology Comeback Show, working with Stamptown, the activ ..read more

Josh Pugh is a comedic force hailing from the heart of the Midlands. He was nominated for Dave’s Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2022 for 'Sausage, Egg, Josh Pugh Chips & Beans', showcasing his unique brand of humour that's earned him a devoted following. His comedic prowess extends beyond the stage, with viral sensations like 'Inventing the four cheese pizza' and 'piss up in a brewery'. Josh is also a talented footballer, representing England's Partially Sighted team for over a decade, including three World Championships. In this episode we discuss creating an audience through viral social me ..read more

Welcome back to the second part of this 450th episode special with Dara Ó Briain who returns after 10 years away from the pod. He’s best known in the UK for hosting Mock the Week and Stargazing Live as well as a legendary run on Taskmaster! His latest show “So… Where Were We?”, deals with missing body parts, a TV show he'll never do and an astonishing family revelation. The show was winner of Best Tour at the 2023 Chortle Awards and has been performed across the world. We delve into Dara's ranking in the comedy world, "the Vienna model" and I put your questions to Dara about a potential Moc ..read more

After 10 years, Dara Ó Briain returns to the show in this 450th episode two part special. If you need an intro, he’s best known in the UK for hosting Mock the Week and Stargazing Live as well as a legendary run on Taskmaster! His latest show “So… Where Were We?”, deals with missing body parts, a TV show he'll never do and an astonishing family revelation. The show was winner of Best Tour at the 2023 Chortle Awards and has been performed across the world. We discuss Dara’s extensive notes that he brought along, how to build and release tension through a confessional stand-up show and the bur ..read more

Janine Harouni, a UK-based Lebanese-American comedian, has been hailed as 'ready for her Netflix special' by The Times. Her debut Edinburgh hour, 'Stand Up with Janine Harouni (Please Remain Seated)', earned her critical acclaim with a nomination for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Fringe and led onto an Amazon Prime special. Her follow-up, 'Man'oushe', premiered at the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and is now embarking on a world tour. Not just confined to the stage, Janine has appeared in ITV2's sitcom Buffering and even had a small role in Matt Reeves’ The Batman. In this episode we discu ..read more

Leo Reich is a comedian and writer, with his smash debut, "Literally Who Cares?!", nominated for Best Newcomer at the Dave Comedy Awards and culminated in a sold out show at EartH Hackney, which was filmed as an HBO Special by A24!! In this episode we discuss launching a debut hour on the cusp of the pandemic, his experience working with the late Adam Brace and what's the next cultural moment to be tackled in stand-up. Join the Insiders Club at www.patreon.com/comcompod where you can WATCH the full episode and get access to over 30 minutes of extras (35m22s to be exact) with Leo including th ..read more

Tomi Walamies has done over 2,000 gigs in eight different countries, appearing on television in England, Belgium, and Finland. As well as writing for the top news satires in Finland, his latest show tackles the big topics of religion, politics, racism, and homophobia. In this episode, we delve into the cultural differences between Finland and the UK, Tomi's analytical approach to stand up (and life!), and we also explore the origins of his podcast, Queer and Dumb, the mission of a straight person exploring the queer scene. Join the Insiders Club on Patreon at patreon.com/comcompod  ..read more