An interview podcast giving the inside scoop of what happens in comedy scenes across the globe and dedicated to speaking to the mavericks in the comedy world. Join hosts Marvin McCarthy and Jack Wheeler as they interview Donatas Kveselys, the 6ft 7in Lithuanian comedian making waves in Sweden, the european circuit, Japan and conquering all UK gong shows. Based in Gothenburg, Sweden, the "Lithuanian Giant" has earned a reputation as one of the most exciting rising stars in stand-up comedy. Here is an overview of what we discussed:

[[01:08]] The London Comedy Scene vs Everywhere Else

How Donatas became a comedian, the success of Victor Patrascan, and the unique pressure of London gong shows. Why the London circuit is so overcrowded compared to the rest of the world. [[08:16]]

[[08:26]] Freedom to Fail: Europe vs The UK

Comparing the supportive atmosphere of the European comedy scene to the high-stakes, "no mistakes" culture of the UK. [[10:56]]

[[25:32]] The Truth About Bringer Shows

Navigating the controversial UK bringer show model and its impact on new acts. [[29:40]]

[[26:50]] Is All Stage Time Good Stage Time?

Analysing whether simply being on stage is always beneficial for your comedy craft. [[28:10]]

[[28:00]] The London Grind & Material Fatigue

Why London comedians repeat their sets until they are tired of their own material. [[31:00]]

[[32:16]] The Challenges of Hosting & MCing

Why hosting is a massive challenge and how it fundamentally changes a comedian's skillset. [[37:33]]

[[33:39]] Crowd Work Spotlight: Siobhan Dodd

Discussing the art of interaction and the great crowd work of Siobhan Dodd. [[37:33]]

[[37:33]] Gothenburg vs Austin, Texas

What makes the Swedish comedy scene so strong when compared to international hubs like Austin. [[40:27]]

[[40:27]] Essential Eastern European Comedians

The top comics from Eastern Europe that you should be following right now. [[44:13]]

[[47:12]] The Financial Cost of Comedy & Japan Tours

Headlining in Japan and the reality of the financial investment required to be a professional comic. [[50:12]]

[[53:10]] Changing the Game & Shout-outs

Highlighting the people currently shaking up the industry and deserving recognition. [[01:01:48]]

[[54:40]] What Comedy Doesn't Need Right Now

A critique of current industry trends and what we should move away from. [[57:29]]

If you would like to know more on Jack Wheeler you can reach him on Instagram at pirate2908 and Facebook at Jack Wheeler, if you would like to know more on Donatas, you can reach on him on his Instagram at donataskveselys and his website at https://www.donataskveselys.com/.

You can follow this podcast on Youtube at https://bit.ly/41LWDAq, Spotify at https://spoti.fi/3oLrmyU,Apple podcasts at https://apple.co/3LEkr3E and you can support the pod on:https://www.patreon.com/thecomediansparadise. #standupcomedypodcast #comedypodcast #interviewingcomedians #swedishstandup #lithuaniancomedian #standupcomedian

How does a WCW announcer and WGA screenwriter become a world-class clown? Chad Damiani joins Marvin McCarthy on The Comedians Paradise to break down the link between pro wrestling and physical comedy, the brilliance of Natalie Palamides, and why every comedian should question authority. Here is an overview of what we discussed:

[[07:35]] Clowning vs Wrestling: Examining the surprising parallels between these two art forms.[[14:58]]

[[08:35]] Gatekeeping in Comedy: Challenging the barriers to entry in the alternative scene. [[15:10]]

[[15:11]] The Wrestler as Clown: Which pro-wrestlers best embody the clown archetype? [[18:07]]

[[21:59]] Conservatory Training: Navigating the world of formal, high-level clown education.[[26:16]]

[[24:10]] The Gaulier Critique: Discussing the potential negatives of the Philippe Gaulier experience. [[25:20]]

[[27:12]] Personal Weaknesses: How to turn your human flaws into comedic superpowers.[[31:43]]

[[30:23]] Success Rates: Analysing the professional impact of Gaulier-style training. [[31:23]]

[[31:43]] Beyond Gaulier: Barnaby King’s influence and why Natalie Palamides is the next great clown icon. [[35:12]]

[[39:38]] Combat Training: Learning the physical mechanics of how to fight on stage.[[40:10]]

[[40:30]] Wrestling in Real Life: The drawbacks of using professional wrestling moves in actual fights.[[41:14]]

[[50:26]] Artistic Integrity: Why I prioritise what matters to me over seeking external approval.[[55:24]]

[[55:30]] Natalie Palamides: A deep dive into her creative process and iconic show structures.[[01:00:00]]

[[01:08:48]] Questioning Authority: The clown’s philosophical duty to challenge the status quo. [[01:10:00]]

[[01:10:00]] Clowning for Stand-ups: How traditional comedians can use physical theatre to improve their sets. [[01:19:00]]

If you would like to know more about Chad, you can go on his instagram at thechaddamiani, go to his podcast:https://shorturl.at/ZdDwH, watch his standup clown show:https://shorturl.at/Ks1hW and you could also follow him on his LInktree:https://linktr.ee/chad.damiani .You can follow this podcast on Youtube at https://bit.ly/41LWDAq, Spotify at https://spoti.fi/3oLrmyU,Apple podcasts at https://apple.co/3LEkr3E and you can support the pod on:https://www.patreon.com/thecomediansparadise. #chaddamiani #standupandclown #modernclown #clownpodcast #clowningworldwide

An interview podcast giving the inside scoop of what happens in comedy scenes across the globe and dedicated to speaking to the mavericks in the comedy world. Our guest today is Simon Rakoff, Simon Rakoff is a veteran Canadian stand-up comedian with a career spanning over 40 years. Known for his sharp wit, observational humour, and storytelling, Simon has performed across Canada, the USA, and the UK, earning acclaim at major comedy festivals such as Just For Laughs, Halifax Ha!, and the Winnipeg Comedy Festival. Here is an overview of what we discussed:

[[00:00]] A brief overview of Canadian comedy, including insights into working with different comedy promoters. [[10:16]]

[[10:16]] Keeping my skills sharp and how Canadian comedy differs from American comedy; legalising cannabis; should drugs be legalised? [[21:04]]

[[21:04]] The importance of knowing French; comparisons between Toronto and Montreal; how Toronto is perceived across Canada. [[24:17]]

[[24:35]] Adapting my stand-up set for different audiences. [[27:27]]

[[27:27]] Many talented comedians travel from Canada to perform in the USA and UK; how Canadian humour stands apart. [[31:25]]

[[52:37]] The “woke versus edge-lords” debate in comedy; insights from Anthony Jeselnik. [[55:16]]

[[56:25]] Navigating the line between true comedians and aspiring performers.[[57:45]]

[[58:00]] How many real comics are there and how many wannabe comics; people who aren’t original. [[01:03:00]]

[[01:12:00]] – I don’t have enough time for people I care about, never mind those I don’t. [[01:16:24]]

To learn more about Simon, you can listen to his album Surrounded by Idiots on Spotify at https://shorturl.at/MnAqu or visit his official website at https://www.simonrakoff.com/.You can follow this podcast on Youtube at https://bit.ly/41LWDAq, Spotify at https://spoti.fi/3oLrmyU,Apple podcasts at https://apple.co/3LEkr3E and you can support the pod on:https://www.patreon.com/thecomediansparadise. #standupcomedypodcast #comedypodcast #interviewingcomedians #podcastinterview #standupcomedian #canadiancomedy