Lisa Gatenby is the Peter Pan of stand-up comedy. Having worked in the business of children's toys for many years, Lisa admits she's never grown up, and loves to add a level of silliness to her performance. In this interview, you'll learn how Lisa has developed her stand-up comedy skills since graduating from the Hard Knock Knocks comedy course, her upcoming Melbourne International Comedy Festival shows with fellow alumni, Jeremy Dooley, and how she had to adjust her language for a US audience. Plus much more.

Comedian Tom Siegert got his comedy spark at the Gershwin Room in St Kilda. His muse was the legendary comedian Greg Fleet. Today, Tom’s an established comedian in his own right, having performed on TV and at comedy festivals around Australia, as well as hosting his own podcast, Good Banter, with fellow comedian Evan Hocking. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast, host Steve Davis digs deep into Tom’s evolution from one-liner comedian to story teller, as well as his creation of the comedy character – The Suburban Footballer. And on the topic of Aussie Rules, you’ll also hear how Tom stood up to protect his comedy against formidable Eddie McGuire – former host and president of The Footy Show and Collingwood Football, respectively. And if you enjoy this podcast, you might also like to see Comedian Tom Siegert at the 2022 Melbourne International Comedy Festival at The Rubber Chicken in South Melbourne, April 21 to 24. In the mean time, be sure to join our Facebook group The School of Hard Knock Knocks Community. This group will help you stay abreast of upcoming courses, stand-up comedy shows and general advice for comedy performers.  

Comedian Katie Burch didn't want to work at NASA or work towards world peace. She wanted to be a comedian, and a dark comedian at that.   In this 100th episode of the School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast, host Steve Davis chats with former National Raw Comedy Finalist Katie Burch about what it takes to be a successful comedian, her life in a cult, and why appealing to a woke crowd isn't great for your comedy career. She also highlights the importance of suffering in the creation of jokes - or at least her preferred form of cruel dark comedy   And if you enjoy this podcast, be sure to join our Facebook group The School of Hard Knock Knocks Community to stay abreast of upcoming courses, shows at The Rubber Chicken in South Melbourne, and general advice for comedy performers.

Haitian-American comedian Ashley Fils-Aime had it all. International tours, sold out shows, and supporting a mega comedian for 11 years. But he stepped away, for love. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast episode you'll learn how Ashley had to reinvent himself throughout life. First, growing up with grandparents in Haiti, schooling in Florida, being homeless, being the support act of Pablo Francisco, and then going it alone in Australia. This is not only a podcast about comedy. Host Steve Davis and comedian Ashley Fils-Aime drops some serious philosophical bombs, son. You'll get that reference later. So sit back and enjoy, this episode. And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to listen to previous interviews with some of Australia, and the world's funniest comedians. Or head over to our School of Hard Knock Knocks Community Page on Facebook. You'll be kept up to date on future episodes, shows at The Rubber Chicken, and upcoming stand-up comedy courses at The School of Hard Knock Knocks.    

When you start out in comedy, you're looking for stuff that is funny. When you get good, you find stuff you want to talk about, and make that funny. So says comedian Wayne Deakin, a 20 plus year veteran of stand-up comedy who has performed in London, New York, Las Vegas, Montreal, all over Australia, AND to Aussie troops in the Middle East. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast episode straight shooter 'Deaks' shares his philosophy on taboo topics, discusses the wilful ignorance of audiences, and shares great advice for up and comers who prefer to perform more edgy topics. And if you enjoy this interview with comedian Wayne Deakin, you might be interested to learn that he's our guest comedy coach at the School of Hard Knock Knocks stand-up comedy course in Melbourne this September. Check out www.schoolofhardknockknocks.com for more information and to sign up. And now, here's host Steve Davis, and comedian Wayne Deakin

By dying, Prince Phillip helped sell out comedian Lewis Spears' last week of his Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) show. Morbid, yes. But also, totally on brand. And totally orchestrated. Yes, mainstream media, like the Daily Mail who called Spears a monster, was played by this true professional.  In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast interview, host Steve Davis delves deep into the business mind behind the 'Spears brand', finds out what it takes to build a following of over half a million subscribers, why every show finishes with debrief and not a beer, and how ultimately to succeed in stand-up comedy today, it takes a team effort. If you're in the comedy scene and know 'someone' who is incredible at stand-up, but just not doing very well, then this is the podcast interview they need to hear. Comedian Lewis Spears succinctly puts the 'business' into 'show business'.  And if you enjoy this interview, then meet the man in person at The Rubber Chicken this June 18. Comedian Lewis Spears is joined by comedians Matt O'Neill and the legendary Chris Wainhouse for the Dark Comedy Special. Tickets are on sale now, so visit www.therubberchicken.com.au.

Six and a half million people a month consume The Chaser's content. That's some seriously sought-after satire! In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast episode, host and Chaser fanboy, Steve Davis, chats with The Chaser's, Charles Firth, about creating headlines and the editorial process, adopting your enemy's voice, and how AI is developing a 'sense' of humour. If you like ruffling features, taking the piss, and dystopian fairy tales, then you'll love this interview with Charles Firth.

In 1988 The Comedy Company changed the face of Australian sketch comedy. Kylie Mole, Uncle Arthur, Con the Fruiterer, and Colin Carpenter became part of the Australian lexicon. So too their creators - Mary-Anne Faye, Glenn Robbins, Mark Mitchell and Kym Gyngell, as well as Russell Gilbert, Tim Smith and, the group's founder, Ian McFadyen. You know them as comedy royalty. What you don't know is that it all started with a loaned hammer. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast episodes, host Steve Davis interviews The Comedy Company creator, Ian McFadyen, as they name-drop down Australian comedy memory lane. You'll learn how a poorly funded comedy show beat the 800-pound gorilla of the time, 60 Minutes, how the 'writers room' generated ideas, and ultimately learn how serendipity created this national treasure. And if you're interested in learning how to write comedy sketches, then stay tuned. In 2021 the School of Hard Knock Knocks is launching our sketch writing course. Learn how to write, edit and even produce your own sketch show, with help from veteran comedy writers and directors. Best of all, your comedy will be turned into an actual Australian sketch comedy web series!

In comedy timing is everything. But when you're a radio host, you manage time like a fine art. So says Sydney based comedian Simon Kennedy, a former radio host and 20 year veteran of stand-up comedy. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast episode, host Steve Davis talks to comedian Simon Kennedy about MCing comedy, 'cancel culture', the green-room hypocrisy, empathy, and sadly his mum's passing in the September 11 attacks. Simon also opens up about his own comedy career, his love of competition in comedy, and adapting to Covid-19 with pantless Zoom comedy. Yes, for Simon constraint is the mother of invention. And if you enjoyed this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast episode then be sure to subscribe by clicking here. Or just as good, join our Facebook community and stay abreast of upcoming shows, courses and podcasts. But if that's not enough, and you'd like to try stand-up comedy, the School of Hard Knock Knocks runs stand-up comedy courses in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. Graduates also get the opportunity to perform at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) and Adelaide Fringe Festival. Click here to register your interest with the team and join our mailing list. Courses run monthly, and our alumni is one of the biggest comedy communities in Australia. We even produced a comedy-drama called 'Is This Thing On?'. Check it out!

Comedian Daniel Muggleton is known for the three stripe Adidas tracksuit and big moustache. For the past two years Daniel has been based in the UK and, no-thanks to Covid-19, he's back in Australia. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast episode host Steve Davis and Daniel Muggleton, also known as Muggo to his Aussie mates, talk about stereotypes, the importance of setting the scene, the UK comedy circuit, touring with comedian Steve Hofstetter and the 'Nowhere Comedy Club' - an online comedy platform that doesn't suck. They also talk about Daniel's special 'Three Stripes' and not being afraid of publishing your comedy online. Rating: Explicit

Stig Wemyss is the director and co-producer of 'Is This Thing On?', a six-episode comedy drama that follows 10 comedy newbies undertaking a souped-up stand-up comedy course, as they get coached and challenged by some of Australia's most iconic stand-up comedians. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast, host Steve Davis talks to Stig about how the show came to be, its premise, how he managed to capture all of the drama within the metaphorical pressure cooker, as well as reminisce about getting nude. Full transparency, Steve Davis goes full monty. If you've ever wondered what it takes to be a stand-up comedian, then listen to this podcast, and then watch episode 1 of 'Is This Thing On?'.

"When you've got someone laughing, you've got them agreeing with you, whether they know it or not." So says Scott Dikkers, founder of The Onion, quite possibly the world's most famous satirical publication. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast, host Steve Davis chats with Scott Dikkers about the serendipity of cheap paper, comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable, taboos, and accepting criticism, all while being a benevolent dictator. Scott also talks about his new book, 'How to Write Funny.' If you love writing satire, enjoy reading satire, or have ever laughed, then you'll enjoy this interview with Scott Dikkers. 

Morry Morgan likes to be the centre of attention. The co-founder of the the School of Hard Knock Knocks, and former host of this very podcast, he has now placed himself into the centre of the Coronavirus crisis, trapping himself in Beijing, China. At least that's how we see it. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast episode, old and new hosts, Morry and Steve, discuss the founding of the school, his favourite graduates, upcoming Adelaide Fringe and Melbourne International Comedy Festival shows, and living under quarantine in a high rise in Beijing. 

You probably didn't know that Adelaide Comic of the Year, Jason Chong, kick started his own stand-up comedy career by attending a stand-up comedy course. That was twenty years ago. Since then he's become a regular face of Adelaide comedy, on stage, TV and radio. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast episode, host Steve Davis talks to Jason about discipline, getting gigs, the Tarago Test, and The Black Box Experiment. Jason also shares a tip from his very first stand-up comedy lesson - keep asking 'but what do you mean?' Listen to find out what he means.

Marty Bright is an optimistic, childish 'silly-billy', which makes him a rarity in stand-up - often the domain of the cynic. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast host Steve Davis probes Marty about performing at the Comedy Store in LA, the Comic Strip in New York, and even at a room as part of an all-African American comedian lineup. He may not be black, but he certainly has appeal. And if you're thinking of giving stand-up comedy a crack in 2020, then you're in luck. Marty Bright is joined with Matt Okine as our comedy coaches for our January 19 - 23 stand-up comedy course in Sydney. To learn more, visit www.schoolofhardknockknocks.com and book your spot.

Fady Kassab has a secret to winning Raw Comedy. The 2019 Raw Comedy winner used advice from John Lennon and George Carlin, even though he thought he'd be disqualified in the first heat. He spoke from the 'back of his head', and performed what he wanted to say, rather than thinking what people would find funny. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast, host Steve Davis, talks to Fady about growing up in Lebanon, starting his comedy career in his 40s, how clean comedy forced him to be more creative, and how speaking from the heart ultimately resonates - particularly with Raw Comedy judges.

What does it take to create a one-man comedy show? In this podcast episode, graduate of the School of Hard Knock Knocks, Lee Ton, shares how he harnessed peer group pressure and advice from successful comedians to take the plunge, with his up coming Melbourne Fringe show, “Where are you from from?”. Host Steve Davis also peppers Lee with questions about his acting career, and asks ‘does stand-up help him with his TV roles?’ Plus, what it takes to play an Irish police office.

Mickey D, aka Mick Dwyer, was a broke 17 year old when he stepped up on stage at Raw Comedy. Since then, he's toured the world, conquering the UK, and been trained by the SAS. Mick is one dangerous comedian. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast, host Steve Davis talks to Mick about how he energises a room, and how being exhausted helped him find his Liverpool voice. You'll also find out whether stand-up comedy is more challenging than training with the SAS, how to be a performer and parent, and advice for up and coming stand-up comedians.

Alumnus Viet Bui, or 'VB' as he's known on the comedy circuit, is one of the School of Hard Knock Knocks most active comedy graduates, performing constantly in his home city of Adelaide, and also at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast host Steve Davis asks VB what got him into stand-up, Vietnamese parents, how he balances his professional and stand-up lives, and his love of dark comedy. VB also chats about his role as a promoter and his upcoming show The Misfits on August 22 at the Shangri-La Karaoke Bar on Hindley St, Adelaide. 

Comedy writer and performer Steven Oliver is best known for his characters on ABC's 'Black Comedy', particularly his catch phrase, 'Hello Slut!'.  In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast, host Steve Davis talks to Steven Oliver about how he got his start in performance, writing poems, songs, scripts and monologues, as well as how he creates authentic sketch comedy and cabaret, all the while making his audience think. 

What are the ingredients to become a stand-up comedian? For Cam Knight it was larrikinism, peer group pressure, and The Life of Brian.  In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast, host Steve Davis talks to comedian and actor Cam Knight about his city-hopping comedy career, butterfly gags, and performing at the Sydney Opera House. Cam also talks about the highs of stand-up comedy touring and TV hosting, and the 'lows' of performing to five people. Cam also shares his advice up and coming stand-up comedians. And if you're interested in kickstarting your stand-up comedy career, Cam Knight is our guest comedian for our August 4 - 8 stand-up comedy course in Sydney. Check out this link to book your spot.

Matt O'Neill just supported the legendary Steve Hughes. How'd it happen? Like all things great in comedy, luck, a friend of a friend, and humility. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks interview with our new host, Steve Davis, we learn how Matt O'Neill's bad experience with a comedian delayed his comedy career, how he has a 'nice' persona, and the origin of his sick jokes. And of course, we learn how he warmed up the audience at The Atheneum Theatre in Melbourne for Steve Hughes. As a side note, Steve and Matt are both alumni of the School of Hard Knock Knocks. And if you're interested in kick starting your stand-up comedy career, then check out www.schoolofhardknockknocks.com for our upcoming courses in Adelaide, Sydney, and Melbourne And now here's the delightfully dark, Matt O'Neill. 

There's no straight line in building a stand-up comedy career. And this fact is highlighted in my interview with Korean Chinese comedian, now an American citizen, Joe Wong. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast interview, you'll learn how Joe moved from Jilin Province in China, became a chemical engineer, and then performed at the White House. He's performed stand-up on David Letterman's The Late Show, Ellen DeGeneres show 'Ellen', and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert - just to name a few. He's now a China-based TV host, uncovering myths and making jokes and one of China's most successful stand-up comedy exports. This interview was conducted in a Beijing coffee shop, so, please ignore the background noise. And now, here he is, Joe Wong.

Julia Clarke has achieved much in her eight years of stand-up comedy. A two time winner of South Australia Raw Comedy, and Edinburgh Fringe Festival performer, Julia is also one of the nicest stand-up comedians on the Adelaide comedy scene. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast episode, comedian Julia Clarke and I discuss getting in trouble with the cops, burning celluloid, and advice for up and coming comedians. And if you'd like to get more advice from Julia , then the good news is that she's the guest comedian at the March 3 to 7 stand-up comedy course in Adelaide. This is the course for new comedians or bucket list tickers.

Sydney based Seizure Kaiser (no, that's not his given name) is not afraid to broach edgy topics in his comedy. And performing stand-up is only one of his talents. He's also a comedy producer and promoter.  In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast episode Seizure Kaiser and I discuss the difference between 'racist jokes' and 'jokes about racism', performing comedy well outside political correctness, and forgetting the haters. Yeah, we discuss the politics of comedy! And if that hasn't scared you off, and you're interested in trying stand-up comedy, then the exciting news is that we have courses in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. Get coached in February and March by Julia Wilson, Julia Clarke, and Steve Hughes. Just log onto www.schoolofhardknockknocks.com for the upcoming dates.

Chris Franklin is a stalwart of Australian comedy. A 21 year comic veteran, Chris has not only witnessed the comedy industry grow, but has been instrumental in that growth. And so it should come to no surprise that Chris is behind the latest Australian comedy festival, 'Laughs of Launnie'.  From March 18 to 24, and smack bang between the Adelaide Fringe Festival and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Laughs of Launnie has already attracted high profile comedians, including Lehmo, Tripod, The Kagools, and Randy Feltface, amongst many other top Aussie and international comedians. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast episode, Chris and I discuss how Laughs of Launnie came to be, his upcoming shows, as well as his April School of Hard Knock Knocks guest comedian spot in Melbourne. That's right, if you'd like to be coached in stand-up by this living legend, visit www.schoolofhardknockknocks.com.

Comedian Gabe Hogan has been a Raw Comedy state finalists twice. She's also built a solid comedy career that has extended into commercial radio. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast interview, Gabe talks about that initial comedic journey, advice for Raw Comedy competitors, and the importance and dangers of comedy cliques. If you're curious about how to start a stand-up comedy career, then this is the podcast for you. And on that topic, the School of Hard Knock Knocks has announced stand-up comedy courses for 2019 in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. If your new year's resolution is to try stand-up, and you need a kick up the ass, then don't miss out on getting coached by some of Australia's best comedians. Greg Fleet, Glynn Nicholas, and Julia Wilson are our comedy coaches throughout January and February, so don't miss out. Go to www.schoolofhardknockknocks.com to secure your spot. And now for the delightful, 'arsehole', Gabe Hogan.

Lehmo is one of Australia's favourite comedians - both on stage and on TV. Star on Utopia, That's Not My Dog, and a regular on The Project, Lehmo's comedy naturally dabbles in satire, showmanship, and current affairs. He's also one of my favourite Aussie comedians, making this last show of 2018 all that extra special. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast episode, Anthony 'Lehmo' Lehmann discloses his original, and embarrassing, nickname, his journey from Adelaide's Rundle Mall 'balls' to Sydney Opera House's 'sails', his book 'This Shirt Won't Iron Itself', making that jump into being a full time comic, and advice for you, the up and coming comedian. And, if you're interested in jumping into comedy or polishing your act in 2019, here's your chance. Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney stand-up comedy courses have been announced and on sale at www.schoolofhardknockknocks.com. Greg Fleet, Steve Hughes, Julia Wilson, Chris Franklin, and Glynn Nicholas, are but a few of our guest comedians sharing their wisdom.

It's fair to say that Julia Wilson is not afraid of conflict - both verbal and physical. Prior to her 17 year career as a stand-up comedian, Julia was a truckie, a bouncer and bodyguard. More recently, she's also got into NFL, American Football, and in a big way too! She's quite possibly the toughest woman in comedy.  In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast episode, Julia talks about her tough persona, being 'punchy-as-fuck' in her comedy routine, some rules of thumb as a female stand-up comedian, and not giving a shit about what other people think - which, according to Julia, is the reason for her success. And if you're thinking about trying stand-up comedy yourself, you might be pleased to know that we are beginning to announce course dates for Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney throughout 2019. That's right, the School of Hard Knock Knocks is quickly becoming Australia-wide. So whether you're a comedian of the future, or a bucket list ticker, you've got more opportunities to get up on stage.

It was a stand-up comedy course, and a dare from a mate, that got Mick Meredith started in comedy. One moment a Sydney muso playing bass, the next Mick was a successful stand-up comedian, and soon after striking it big with a regular spot on Nine Network's The Footy Show.   In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast you'll learn how Mick went from open mics to TV, life on the high sea as a cruise comedian, and the benefits of mixing comedy income streams. We'll also talk about Mick's upcoming guest spot at the School of Hard Knock Knocks stand-up comedy course in Sydney from December 2 to 6. Join Mick, Ben Horowitz, and returning alumna Thalia-Joan to learn stand-up comedy skills, so like Mick, you can kick-start you comedy career.

Adelaide comedian, Marc Ryan is a self diagnosed bogan. He's also a state winner, and national finalist of Raw Comedy, and through his success has been able to go full time - although not without some serious thought.  In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast, we discuss Raw, building a comedy career, supportive wives, and the Adelaide Fringe Festival. We also talk about the upcoming School of Hard Knock Knocks stand-up comedy course in Adelaide, from December 9 to 13. Comedians Glynn Nicholas and Marc Ryan will be developing Adelaide's next batch of comedians, alongside returning alumnus, Steve Davis. If you would like to compete at Raw Comedy, or even perform in 'The Best of' School of Hard Knock Knocks Adelaide Fringe show, then this is the course for you. Spots are filling up quickly.

You can't say a bad thing about comedian Michael Connell. He's quite possibly the nicest guy in stand-up comedy, if not the world. He's also got an incredible intellect, which makes him a formidable comedian. In this podcast Michael talks about his achievements in Class Clowns, Australia's Got Talent, and Green Faces. We also talk about his passion for philosophy, remembering sets, moving to Brisbane and entertaining sick kids. And while I have your attention, if you'd like to try stand-up comedy, and live in Melbourne, then this is the month to pull your finger out. Our guest comedian in October is the legendary George Kapiniaris. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so visit www.schoolofhardknockknocks.com to sign up. You also get a huge discount if you bring your friend.

Adelaide-based Kim Le is one of those annoying high achievers. A qualified psychiatrist, Kim is also a blackbelt, speaks multiple languages, is an awarded keynote speaker, and now he's excelling in stand-up comedy. He's also a graduate of the School of Hard Knock Knocks and was the middle bracket at the most recent Adelaide graduation, alongside Glynn Nicholas and Gerry Masi (aka Mad Dog Malcolm). In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast, Kim and I talk about his new open mic room, the 'Comedy Clinic', his upcoming comedy production, 'Pho Real' - an all Vietnamese-Australian comedian lineup with Lee Ton and Loc Tran on the October 26, and, just to emphasis how annoyingly gifted this guy is, we talk about his invitation to perform at next year's Adelaide Fringe Festival's 'Next Generation' comedy show. And he's only been doing stand-up for five months. And, if like Kim, you'd like to kick start your stand-up comedy career with the School of Hard Knock Knocks, then this is your month - assuming you're in Melbourne. Aussie comedy legend, Greg Fleet, is our guest comedy coach, for the September 23 - 27 course. But don't dally - we're only days away.

If there's a single take away message from this interview, then it's about embracing change. British born comedian, Jeff Green was at the top of his game in the UK, performing as an equal with comedy greats, featuring on TV and radio, and even living next door to Ricky Gervais. His career, fame, comedy connections, and bank balance were bigger than a London double decker. And then things changed. In this podcast, you'll learn how Jeff rolled with the punches, rebuilt his comedy career from scratch half a world away in Australia, and, by his admission, become a better comedian. "Do what you've always done and you'll get what you've always got", is Jeff Green's mantra, and if you're looking for inspiration, as an new comedian, or with life in general, then I'm sure you'll thoroughly enjoy this interview. And if you'd like to meet Jeff and get personally coached in stand-up comedy, he's our guest comedian for our November 25 - 29 stand-up comedy course in Melbourne. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so don't miss out.

Dave O'Neil has been performing stand-up comedy for an incredible 29 years. It was only fitting that a TV show about his life should be made, and in this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast Dave and I talk about producing 'Dave' - the show about 'Dave'. We discuss the politics of the TV world, casting stand-up comedians as actor, podcasting, and the financial benefits of bring a comedy writer and not performer. And one more thing, Dave is most certainly NOT starting his own stand-up comedy course. Not that I was worried. In September we have the incredible Glynn Nicholas and Greg Fleet, at our Adelaide and Melbourne stand-up comedy courses, respectively. If you'd like to get along and get coached by two of the most experienced comedians in Australia, who aren't Dave O'Neil, be sure to log onto www.schoolofhardknockknocks.com.

A wig, flairs, and a fake moustache, and Mad Dog Malcolm Cummins was born. The creation of Adelaide comedian and musician, Gerry Masi, Mad Dog is part crooner, part playboy, with a light splattering of sleaze. Together, he's a hilarious 1970s character, that is all too familiar. In this interview we talk call backs, one liners, getting away with 'inappropriate' humour, his band, Lucifer's Lounge, and being a comedian in Adelaide. If you're a lover of character comedy, like Elliot Goblet, Bob Down, and Helen Bidou, then you'll love this interview with Gerry Masi. You'll also be excited by the news that Gerry Masi is our guest comedian for the September 9 - 13 stand-up comedy course in Adelaide. Get coached in a supportive environment, with guest comedian Gerry Masi, and resident comedy coach, Glynn Nicholas, over five evenings at The Archer in North Adelaide. The early bird price is about to end, so don't miss out. Click here to secure your spot today.

Simon Hughes runs Kings of Comedy, a comedy room in the heart of Melbourne. He's also an up and coming stand-up comedian. A class clown at school, Simon was naturally drawn to entertainment - until drug addiction turned his world upside down. But Simon has bounced back, and even turned his traumatic experience into a Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) and Sydney Fringe show, Man vs Meth In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast we talk drug abuse, mental health, the Messiah Complex, and bringing light to dark topics. We also talk comedy, like how to promote yourself as a new comedian. And while I have you, a final reminder that the early bird price for the Melbourne August 26 - 30 stand-up comedy course finishes in 5 days time. If you'd like to try your hand at stand-up, or have your current comedy set polished by seasoned professionals, then visit click here and book your spot. It's also a great birthday present.

Rik Roberts runs the School of Laughs. But not in Australia. Rik is Kentucky born and now lives in Nashville, Tennessee, which will explain our two contrasting accents. As you can guess, like the School of Hard Knock Knocks, the School of Laughs is a stand-up comedy school. That's where the similarities end. Rik, in contrast to just about all of our previous interviewees identifies as a Christian comedian. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast, you'll hear a unique perspective on finding the funny within the constraints of Christianity, and how being squeaky clean can be great for business - at least in the USA. And while I have your attention, the upcoming Melbourne and Adelaide comedy courses are filling up quickly, with guest comedians Joe White, Glynn Nicholas, and Greg Fleet. If you're interested in kick starting your stand-up comedy career, or getting your set polished from seasoned comedians, then be sure to sign up to our August and September courses - while you can still get the early bird price. Who doesn't like a discount?! Amen!

Kieran Butler is a political satirist, comedic antagonist, and a general contrarian. Heavily influenced by the Aussie alternative rock band, TISM, Kieran Butler is not afraid of speaking his mind and challenging the status quo. But many of you already know this. For those that aren't familiar with Kieran and his work, you'll enjoy this emotionally charged interview, where we delve into the importance of being able to joke about taboos, the politics of the comedy industry, finding ones 'voice' as a stand-up comedian, and the amazing woman, Eurydice Dixon, a member of the comedy community, who was murdered in Melbourne in June. There's a language warning on this episode, so best listen with your headphones in. Interested in learning stand-up comedy? Visit the School of Hard Knock Knocks website.

New Zealand born, Brisbane raised, and globally travelled, Chris Wainhouse, has been in the comedy game for over 20 years. The son of a fundamental Christian mother, it should come as no surprise for those that know Chris's material, that his views are somewhat different - after all, he called his most recent Melbourne International Comedy Festival show (MICF) 'The AntiChris'. Yeah, he's going to hell. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast Chris Wainhouse and Morry Morgan talk about awful Christian comedians, taboos or rather the importance of not having any taboos in comedy, the advantages of having a comedian as a partner, and comedy advice. And a quick advertisement. This podcast is sponsored by the School of Hard Knock Knocks online comedy course. It's the full curriculum of the classroom course, only delivered online.

Nadine Sparks loves learning comedy. At aged 12 she began learning improvisation comedy, including a course at 18 at the highly respected NIDA, then performing with Improv Conspiracy, before travelling to the US to learn the Chicago method. And then seven years ago Nadine did a stand-up comedy course, and this resulted in her first five-minute performance at the Exford Hotel. Since then she's performed for five seasons at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, as well as other festivals around Australia. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast Nadine takes us deep into the world of Improv, or impro, where you'll learn about the 'Harold' structure in long-form improvisation theatre, her new gang The Tickle Pit, how a dose of improv can help build confidence for stand-up comedians, and the pros and cons of swearing. And now, here's Nadine Sparks.

Lee Ton first tried his hand at stand-up comedy in 2008. Ten years later, and with a couple of comedy courses under his belt, Lee has found himself performing at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF), headlining with Richard Stubbs, and being specially cast for a reality stand-up comedy TV show, "Is This Thing On?". Lee's recent success has been sudden, but as you'll hear in this School of Hard Knock Knocks, he took a considerable break from comedy to raise a family, before returning to the craft only two years ago. This break from comedy has helped him mature, gain material, and ultimately return to his passion at full speed. And if you're interested in learning stand-up comedy, then join the June 24 - 28 course in Melbourne with The Nelson Twins, or alternatively, if you'd like to become a reality TV celebrity, application to be a comedy student in "Is This Thing On?" is still open. Click here to apply.

Khaled Khalafalla has had a meteoric rise in comedy. But it could have turned out very different. Born into a medical family of surgeons and dentists, and growing up in Saudi Arabia and New Zealand, comedy's call must have been strong. Now calling Melbourne home, Khaled has well and truly put his mark on the comedy map, having come runner up in the National Grand Final of Raw Comedy, winner of Green Faces, and now a regular on the Australian comedy circuit. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast interview, you'll hear how Khaled compares metabolism to writing comedy, how his goal to be a radio host got him hooked on stand-up, how he believes stand-up comedy is the 'root of entertainment in its purest form', and his new found acting career. We also talk about Khaled's upcoming Australian tour. Click here to see the dates. And, if you're curious about stand-up, and want to kick start your comedy career, the School of Hard Knock Knocks has courses running in Adelaide and Melbourne in June, with Glynn Nicholas and The Nelson Twins.

David Tulk has been performing stand-up comedy for the past 15 years, and today he's a regular feature at comedy rooms around Australia. A straight talker, Tulk's rough edges are emphasised by the titles of his productions, namely his upcoming stand-up show 'David Tulk has No Filter' and his YouTube video series, 'Some People Are Just Arseholes.' In this interview you'll hear how David Tulk got started, how being lumpy has helped his comedy career, both on stage and screen, how he weaved 'zen' into a joke, as well as his own 'Pay It Forward Joke' word - fountain pen. One quick warning, there's a load of satire in this interview! So have your pinch of salt ready. And if this interview has wetted your comedic appetite, and you're thinking about trying your hand at stand-up, then be quick to join our May 27 - 31 stand-up comedy course in Melbourne, with guest comedian Richard Stubbs, or our June 4 - 8 course in Adelaide with Glynn Nicholas. Both courses are almost sold out, so go to www.schoolofhardknockknocks.com now, and secure your spot.

Marty Wilson is an award winning comedian. He's also an author, and in this School of Hard Knocks podcast we talk about his new book ON comedy - More Funny, More Money. Originally an online course, also called More Funny, More Money, the book was the obvious evolution, and in the interview Marty highlights that humour is not only useful on a stand-up comedy stage, but is also scientifically linked to better leadership, increased attractiveness, and reducing stress. Marty also talks about his International Business Humour Summit, and takes up the 'Pay It Forward Joke Challenge' with the word 'pedestal clock. And if you're enjoying these podcasts and would like to be part of a comedy community, be sure to check out our School of Hard Knock Knocks Podcast Community group on Facebook. You'll meet like minded comedy lovers, get free advice, and be reminded of upcoming comedy courses.

Paul Sharplin has only been in the comedy game for 15 months. But that hasn't stopped him from competing at Raw Comedy twice, and running a comedy room - Guerilla, in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn. But as you'll learn from this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast interview, Paul just likes to jump in head first. Newcomers to comedy will enjoy this podcast, because we cover the early years of a comedian, which include those dreaded open mic nights, but also how to get onto a poster of a curated room. Paul also shares advice for how to move up the comedy ladder and perform at Melbourne's top comedy club - the Comics' Lounge. We also challenge Paul in the 'Pay It Forward Joke Challenge', with the word 'barbie', and he lays down the challenge for our next interviewee with his word, 'pedestal clock'. You're going to have to Google that one. And a reminder for those living in Melbourne and Adelaide, who are keen to learn stand-up comedy. Our guest comedians for our Melbourne May 27 - 31, and Adelaide June 4 - 8  stand-up comedy courses, are the legendary Richard Stubbs and Glynn Nicholas, respectively. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to get coached by Australia's most experienced comedians, so visit www.schoolofhardknockknocks.com and secure your spot today.

Ross Voss is an Adelaide based comedian and room runner. With over 10 years in comedy, and experience producing shows at the Adelaide Fringe, as well as Cranker Comedy, Ross knows comedy - and Adelaide. In this interview Ross sheds light on the Adelaide comedy scene, provides advice for newbie comedians, and inspires a new School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast tradition - the 'Pay-it Forward Joke Challenge'. Each episode our interviewee lays down a joke topic for the next episode, so listen to our next episode to hear an original joke on 'barbecues' - thanks Ross Voss. And, if you're based in Adelaide, and would like to try your hand at stand-up comedy, we're running a full course from June 4 to 8, with resident comedy teacher, Glynn Nicholas, Ross Voss himself as our guest comedian, and our very own alumna, Kim Da Cruz. Early bird tickets are on sale already, so visit www.schoolofhardknockknocks.com to secure your spot.

In her very first Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) show, Nikki Osborne not only sold out, but also managed to attract over 100,000 dollars of free, or 'earned', publicity for her show "On the Spectrum". That was the good news. The bad news was she also endured an emotional onslaught for her show's topic - autism. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast, you'll learn how Nikki's 'go hard or go home' attitude helped her battle online trolls and survive the criticism, all the while polishing and improving her show to make it a positive experience for all, and a true success. And if the name 'Nikki Osborne' is familiar, but you can't recall it from the stand-up scene, that's because she's best known for her TV appearances, most recently as Delvene Delaney, in the TV mini-series, "Hoges: The Paul Hogan Story". She's also a regular as face as gameshow host and witty guest contestant. Nikki Osborne is extremely talented and an inspiration to anyone who's interested in smashing the status quo, whether that be on stage or on screen, so I'm sure you'll enjoy this interview. And if you're enjoying these podcasts, and would like to become part of a comedy community, we've launched our School of Hard Knock Knocks Podcast Community group on Facebook. It's absolutely free to join and full of advice.

Sometimes anonymity can give you the courage to try something scary. That was the case for Cameron James, the Newcastle born comedian whose first open mic was at Comedy on Edge in Sydney, where he knew no one – intentionally. Today, Cameron is well known, having made the national final of Raw Comedy, performed all over Australia, and has representation. This year he’s performing at his show, Chilled Out/Fired Up at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. In this interview, we talk about Cameron’s comedy birth, getting acting spots on telly, building his personal brand through investing in his own social media content, and the popularity of podcasting for comedians.

Gavin Sempel is one of the hardest working new comedians in Australia. At the age of 18, in March 2016, Gavin began his stand-up comedy career by enrolling in the very first School of Hard Knock Knocks course. Two years later, almost to this day, he’s done close to 300 open mic, curated, and paid gigs all around Australia. Last year, he performed his first Melbourne International Comedy Show, and this year, he’s doing it again, with his show titled ‘Plain and Sempel‘. But perhaps most impressive of all, is that Gavin won the Victorian state final for Raw Comedy – securing a spot in the Raw Comedy National Grand Final scheduled for April 15, this year. This is an underdog story. And Gavin’s performance as the headliner at the recent School of Hard Knock Knocks’ March graduation, alongside his two very first comedy mentors – Brad Oakes and Ben Horowitz – makes it all the more remarkable. The grasshopper has become the master. If you’re starting out in comedy, and want a career path mapped out for you, then this is the episode for you. And while I have you, here’s a reminder to get along to the School of Hard Knock Knocks Podcast Community group on Facebook, where we share free advice, tips and tricks, and help you kickstart your comedy career. And you don’t even have to be a graduate. It’s for everyone!