Wilfully Funny

I talk with Montreal comic Victoria Blair.   We met at The Comedy Nest in Montreal after the first lockdown. Victoria and I talked about sexism and ageism in our comedy communities. We talked at length about getting hate and mansplained. She finds it funny while I find it infuriating.

I talk with Ottawa comic and friend Ashley Krawchenko.   Ashley is the only woman so far to have won the Yuk Yuk’s summer comedy competition. I asked her about her prolific TikTok and Instagram posts. We also talked chins and making crazy faces. We discovered that we both have huge pandemic online shopping addictions. We also talk getting mansplained by psychopaths.

  I talk with Ottawa comic and friend Wafik Nasralla. Wafik and I got deep talking about lockdown, how we’ve been doing, and what life has been like a year into the pandemic. We did have light-hearted, funny moments like when he told me about his very first set.

  I talk with my close friend Kingston comic and show producer Ashley Perna. Ashley and I are not happy that it’s Valentine’s Day. She tells us about presenting a bill to city council to ban conversion therapy in Kingston. Currently she is working towards getting comedy recognized as an art form in Canada. We also talked comedy, getting stuck in an elevator, people “giving us jokes”, and sex...

I talk with Toronto comic, improviser, actor, and writer Luke Lynndale.   Luke and I are big fans of online comedy shows. We discussed the pros and cons of online and live comedy. He performs 17-20 online shows a month! He will be producing 50 shows March 8-27! We had a fun, awesome conversation.

I talk with Ottawa comic Spence Charles. We talked about the technical aspect of standup comedy...is it giving away trade secrets or merely breaking down the structure of a joke to non-comedians? We both like the solitary nature of standup. As usual, Spence brings his high energy and positivity to the conversation.

I talk with Ottawa comic and musician Rory Gardiner.   We talked more about music and being your authentic self than we did about comedy. Rory told me about his journey in music and comedy and his Ted Talk experience. Very engaging and interesting conversation. We literally shot the breeze.

I talk with Ottawa comic Melanie Paige. We started off crusty. We talked lockdown rage and the toll it’s taken on our mental health. We both had apprehension about performing in small towns and were fortunately proven wrong. We also talked responsibility and accountability in standup. Melanie humoured me by answering some of my crazy questions at the end.

I talk with Ottawa comic and musician Aaron Hill. Aaron and I talk about the things we did/learned while in lockdown. We had an in depth convo about tattoos. Aaron shares my enthusiasm for zoom comedy shows! He also released some music! Listen and download here: http://bit.ly/3ts96IC Video music video for Not Gonna Eat Your Bum: https://youtu.be/HqTsw5RZXLI

I talk with Ottawa comic Chris Borris. Chris told me how posting tweets and selling photocopiers led to his first standup gig. He is one of the few comics I know who did not have dreams of doing standup since childhood. One of the things we have in common is starting comedy “old”.

I talk with the one person who’s known me the longest and knows me best…my sister Candy. Candy gives us some background about her performance experience and how surprised she was when I told her I was pursuing stand up. We also talk about how we think our late parents would have reacted to my material.

In this special episode, I talk with two of my dearest and closest friends, Missy and Lucie. We’ve been friends since high school and have been through everything with each other. I wanted to know what they thought about my comedy journey so far.

I talk with Ottawa comic and musician Lewis Hill. We talked COVID fatigue, missing comedy, and getting creative during lockdown. Lewis recorded an album while in lockdown!

Although this is a comedy podcast, this episode deals with depression, suicidal ideation, substance abuse, neglect, abuse, and racism. Listener and viewer discretion is advised. In Part 2 Janelle continues to talk about how her difficult, traumatic childhood and strained relationship with her mother has affected her. We talk about trying to fit in, low self-esteem, negative/harmful stereotypes, ho...

Although this is a comedy podcast, this episode deals with depression, suicidal ideation, substance abuse, neglect, abuse, and racism. Listener and viewer discretion is advised. I talk with my good friend, Ottawa comic Janelle Niles. Part 1 deals with the COVID-19 vaccine, how black and indigenous people are treated differently in the health care realm, how people are finally realizing that system...

I talk with my friend, Ottawa comic Mitch Muirhead. We talked recording farts, keeping busy during lockdown, things we miss the most, what/who makes us laugh, and people who order Champagne from Champagne in a dingy, basement comedy bar.

I talk with my friend, Ottawa comic Jake Daly. We talked everything comedy for almost 2 hours that I can’t narrow it down. We had a lively in-depth conversation…it was awesome!

I talk with Ottawa comic Michaela Chung. We talked about being a woman in Ottawa comedy, slut shaming, our writing processes, and how we cope while in lockdown. Also Michaela shared an awkward moment involving a cameraman at a JFL show.

I talk with my good friend Ottawa comic Emile Mansour. We talked a lot about comedy and our Ottawa Comedy Community. I think Emile coined a new phrase…“Hierarchy of Laughter”.

I talk with my good friend Ottawa comic/musician Tom Hills. We went there. We talked mental health and how we’re handling the current lockdown and stay-in-place orders. Surprise…we’re both over it. We also talked racism, social injustice, and our experiences with it. Still funny tho.

In this episode, I talk with Ottawa comic/musician David Haddad. We talk lockdown, self-isolating in paradise, and of course comedy. David shares the greatest “best moment in comedy” ever and gets an earful of cat-drama. He also answers a question about the perfect murder weapon…it got dark.

In this episode I talk with award-winning actor, writer, teacher, and comedian Pierre Brault. We talk about his stand up classes, how live stand up has changed, and what he’s learned and seen after 40 years in the biz. I forgot to ask him if was his favourite student ever.

I talk with Kingston comic Pete Egnatoff. Pete and I talk performing post lockdown, mental health, and the incident that solidified our friendship. He gets roasted and complimented in the comments and he answers some silly questions.

I talk with Ottawa comic Kia Mazhar. We talk scooters, favourite local comics, and Kia’s early experiences and pranks that ultimately brought him to standup. Who should play Kia in his bio pic? Also, dumbest injury?

I talk with Ottawa comedian, musician, and filmmaker Scott Brown. We discuss the differences between the London and Ottawa comedy scenes, his film “Comedy-19: The Last Laugh?”, and whether he would take on a horse-sized duck or 100 duck-sized horses. Also, did you know that more comics get punched on stage than attacked by sharks?