Boss Wummin'

It is July … yes it is … and we’re hurtling towards Edinburgh Fringe 2026. This means the Gilded Balloon team have to address the fact they have 230 shows to put on while not actually having an office. It also means that lots of people are starting to think about buying tickets – but where to start? Karen and Katy are here to help with their first round-up of suggestions for shows they think you’l...

Maria Mcerlane is with us! She and Graham Norton are bringing their hit podcast, Wanging On , to Gilded Balloon this Fringe. But before she was Graham Norton’s de facto wife, Maria was raging round the streets of Edinburgh with our very own Karen Koren and – you won’t be surprised – there are some stories to tell.  Listen to discover – amongst other things: who had raw sex with fluffy girlies who...

We’re back! Have you missed us? We took a break. Katy had a baby. Karen had a bit of a rest. But we have returned with a new name, new sig tune, new guests and new energy to tell you all about being women, in business, in comedy, in Scotland.  Gilded Balloon is gearing up for another Edinburgh Fringe and we’re hard at work trying to make sure all the things Karen and Katy started planning last Nov...

In this episode, Karen and Katy finally reveal what they've been keeping under wraps, the Gilded Balloon's 40th Anniversary Fringe programme! Tune in as they lift the curtain on the incredible shows who'll be gracing Gilded stages this Summer, including Rosie O'Donnell and Smack the Pony. Book tickets for the full programme here. Follow us on  ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ,  ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠  and ...

In this episode, Karen and Katy catch up on a very busy couple of months - from the Glasgow International Comedy Festival to their Aussie adventures, road-tripping on the Big Comedy Roadshow and gearing up for the Fringe. Follow us on  ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ,  ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠  and  ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ . Hosted by Karen and Katy Koren, the dynamic mother-daughter duo behind the renowned Gilded Balloon at the Edinburgh...

In this episode, Karen and Katy sit down for a chat with former MP-turned-comedy sensation Mhairi Black. They delve into her childhood, how she got into politics, and why she ultimately stepped away from it all. Plus, they talk all about Mhairi's exciting journey into comedy, from selling out every single show at her first Fringe run to her upcoming live tour, hitting stages across Scotland this S...

New year, new plans! In this episode, Katy and Karen discuss Hogmanay, share their 2025 resolutions and dive into the exciting process of planning this year’s festival programme. Plus - they're heading to Australia!  Follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠ , ⁠TikTok⁠ and ⁠Facebook⁠ . Click here for Jack Docherty's Australian Tour Hosted by Karen and Katy Koren, the dynamic mother-daughter duo behind the...

In this episode, Karen and Katy catch up on all the latest happenings at Gilded Balloon since the Fringe wrapped up, and share their exciting plans as they look ahead to 2025. They chat about potential new venues and the challenges they bring, and discuss the importance of being resilient. Follow us on Instagram , TikTok and Facebook . Hosted by Karen and Katy Koren, the dynamic mother-daughter du...

In this episode, recorded live at the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe, Karen and Katy sit down with singer, actor, writer, and comedian Michelle Brasier . They dive into Michelle's fascinating journey, from her childhood to her diverse career, and discuss her heartbreaking and hilarious memoir, My Brother's Ashes Are in a Sandwich Bag.

It's time for Fringe 2024 and Karen and Katy give you a rundown of what they have planned for Gilded Balloon this August. Follow Us On Social Media  ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠   ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠   ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ Boss Wummin' is a podcast about Women in Business in Comedy. It's hosted by Karen and Katy Koren, the mother daughter powerhouse team behind the Edinburgh Festival Fringe venue, Gilded Ballo...

In this episode we welcome the 3rd generation of Boss Wummin' to the podcast. Follow Us On Social Media   ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠   ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠   ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ Boss Wummin' is a podcast about Women in Business in Comedy. It's hosted by Karen and Katy Koren, the mother daughter powerhouse team behind the Edinburgh Festival Fringe venue, Gilded Balloon. Listen as Katy asks her mum for important bus...

The Boss Wummin' are back for a brand new series and there is some VERY exciting news!! There is a Gilded Baby on the way!  Follow Us On Social Media Instagram Twitter Facebook Boss Wummin' is a podcast about Women in Business in Comedy. It's hosted by Karen and Katy Koren, the mother daughter powerhouse team behind the Edinburgh Festival Fringe venue, Gilded Balloon. Listen as Katy asks her...

Karen & Katy catch up with their long time friend Lynn Ferguson on this episode of Boss Wummin'. Listen to a few of the many highlights of Lynn's career, her childhood, relationship with her parents and more importantly how she met Karen.  Follow Us On Social Media Instagram Twitter Facebook Boss Wummin' is a podcast about Women in Business in Comedy. It's hosted by Karen and Katy Koren,...

In the final instalment of Live at The Fringe episodes Karen & Katy are joined in the Gilded Garden by Lucy Porter. Lucy talks about starting out in comedy, how she still enjoys The Fringe 20 years later and her relationships with her parents growing up.  Follow Us On Social Media Instagram Twitter Facebook Boss Wummin' is a podcast about Women in Business in Comedy. It's hosted by Karen...

In this episode Karen & Katy speak to Kiri Pritchard-Mclean in the Gilded Garden at The Fringe. They talk about Kiri's childhood and how she got into comedy, who her early influences were, working relationships and being on a comedy course at Uni. She also tell us about The Covid Arms during the pandemic and setting up the wonderful Get Off Comedy, an industry born and funded independent HR th...

In this episode Karen & Katy are joined by Francesca Moody in the Garden at Teviot for a chat about her career so far, how she got into the industry, the History of her coming to The Fringe and it's future and being involved with Fleabag.  Follow Us On Social Media Instagram Twitter Facebook Boss Wummin' is a podcast about Women in Business in Comedy. It's hosted by Karen and Katy Koren,...

In this episode Karen & Katy catch up with Kay Adams in the Garden at Teviot in the middle of the Fringe.  They talk about Kay approaching 60, Karen starting to hand Gilded Balloon over to Katy, being a woman in the media and much more.  Follow Us On Social Media Instagram Twitter Facebook Boss Wummin' is a podcast about Women in Business in Comedy. It's hosted by Karen and Katy Kore...

In this episode Karen & Katy look back at 35 years of Gilded Balloon's new comedy competition So You Think You're Funny? Karen talks about the origins of the competition, how it's evolved and they talk about some of the notable winners and finalists over the years. Check out this year's programme - Fringe 2022 Leith Social at The Pitt - Tickets Work With Us - Jobs Follow Us On Social Media Ins...

Karen and Katy are back for another episode of Boss Wummin' In this episode they discuss the changes, good and bad, The Fringe has gone through as we celebrate the 75th Anniversary in 2022. Check out this year's programme - Fringe 2022 Leith Social at The Pitt - Tickets Work With Us - Jobs Follow Us On Social Media Instagram Twitter Facebook Boss Wummin' is a podcast about Women in Business in Com...

Our last episode of series two! Our lovely pal Mary Tobin is the brains behind Mary Tobin Presents. Formed in 1986 the company has produced hundreds of unsubsidised shows in a variety of genres including comedy, cabaret, magic, music and theatre. Mary has been presenting the finest and funniest International and Australian Comedy for over 30 years and we caught up with her to hear about how her ca...

Jay Lafferty, everyone's favourite Greenock comic join Karen and Katy for a wee catch up at the Fringe. At this year's Fringe, Jay was 7 months pregnant and still managed to perform in 3 shows every single day. A great pal of both Karen and Katy - Jay chats about working with her husband, her wee mum and what she'd like for her unborn baby! -- Boss Wummin' is a podcast about Women, Comedy and Busi...

Susan Provan joins the Korens at the Edinburgh Fringe. Susan is the Director of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and is a long time pal of both Karen and Katy's, who has had an incredible career at the helm of the biggest comedy festival in the world for over 23 years. They discuss her business mentors, her mother and her relationship with her own daughter as well as the comedy landscap...

In this episode, comedian Laura Lexx joins Katy and Karen for a chat during the Fringe. Laura is one of the best acts on the UK comedy circuit at the moment with a natural skill that grips any room she is in. This is her second Fringe with the Gilded Balloon and they chat about Laura's comedy career, the global climate crisis, family planning and her wonderful relationship with her own family - al...

Kate Copstick is a Paisley-born Scottish actress, television presenter, writer, critic, director and producer. She is part of the furniture of Edinburgh Fringe with more stories than most - Karen and Katy could not get enough of her! Kate is absolutely fascinating to listen to and in this episode - the longest interview they've had with any guest - Kate reveals so much about her upbringing and fam...

In this episode Katy and Karen chat to Esther Manito - a Lebanese British Comedian doing her debut at this year's Fringe. Esther was the first female comedian to ever perform at the Dubai Opera House this year and was a finalist in Gilded Balloon's So You Think You're Funny? Competition in 2017. They discuss Fringe first's, family, feminist and how to juggle them all during the Fringe and in life....